This chapter is named the same thing as the whole story… Grau. It means ‘gray’ in German. I gave it to one of my offline buddies to read (Shubha) and while she didn’t get the actual story, she’s like, “Ah! Gray, in-between Black and White!” And this was right after she read just the first few parts to get the names Schwarz and Weiβ. I proud; I actually got my point across. ^_^

There’s a few parts that show Rot with a severe brother-complex. Lol.

Grau by Phiare

Chapter Thirteen: Grau // Gray

            “Otouto, are you comfortable?” Rot asked lovingly as he sparked a fire nonchalantly.

            Shueva smiled weakly. This was too much. He had discovered that Weiβ had a brother just yesterday. Rot kept calling him ‘otouto,’ which meant younger brother. That would automatically make him Weiβ.

            “Aniki?” Shueva asked, unsure if Rot minded being called ‘older brother’ or not. On the contrary, Rot’s eyes lit up and even began to mist.

            “Nobody’s called me Aniki in so long… well, you used to call me Onii-chan, but Aniki is more mature. You’ve grown so much, Weiβ.”

            Shueva paused. “I prefer being called Shueva.”

            “But your name is Weiβ.”

            “I’ve been going as Shueva for so long.” Shueva mused, but Rot was in his face immediately.

            “Your name is Weiβ.” He repeated, his eyes narrowed. Shueva wanted to instinctively run, but he was frozen in place.

            “Y-Yes, Rot.”

            “Call me Aniki. Please.” Rot’s sweet smile seemed terribly poisoned. “And I will stick to Otouto.”

            The forest they were staying in was a real forest, with real trees. It was far from Somnolent, and was closer towards the North. There was a refreshing smell of real air instead of the artificial oxygen in the cities. Perhaps it was because the fresh forest air was mixed in with the aromas of damp foliage and strong woods. They sparked a fire with sticks, and Rot patiently taught Shueva how to keep the fire alive.

            They spent a brotherly evening together, but Shueva felt as if this was horribly wrong. There was something so fake about Rot, it was deadly. Yet, while the flaw was evident, it was impossible to determine what the flaw was. Except for his moody temper, Rot seemed like the perfect older brother. Except for when Shueva outright questioned Rot’s authority as the older of the two, he never lost his patience with his dear otouto.

            “Aniki?” Shueva asked delicately after Rot had rolled out two mats for them to sleep on.

            “Yes?” Rot responded cheerfully, as if enjoying being an older brother.

            “Why did you kidnap me?” Shueva winced, expecting his brother to snap back, possibly even kill him, but instead, Rot was silent and motionless. A minute passed, and there was still no response from the older brother.

            “Why should I have to kidnap my own brother?” He asked sorrowfully, with more anguish that Shueva knew his brother could muster. “He was taken from me, he was taken by my own father.”

            This reminded Shueva of what he needed to know most. “Aniki, I need to know the whole story. You know what Schwarz wants with me. I feel like I know him… but I do not remember my memories.”

            “And you must not.” Rot had leaned over and coaxed his younger brother, gently shutting his eyes and drawing the covers over him. “Close your eyes and I will tell you about Schwarz. He might have told you in the past, but you have forgotten. Consider it a blessing.”

            “So many people have told me that my amnesia was a blessing.” Shueva murmured sleepily, and the heat from Rot’s body reminded him of a mother tucking in her beloved son.

            “This is because so many people on this world are so willing to forget their lives.” Rot whispered. “So many people would give anything to just forget all of their worries, their troubles, and live in blissful ignorance.”

            “I’ve heard that ignorance is bliss. But knowing… knowing is an assurance.”

            “Knowing brings only worry and bitterness.” Rot turned to face his younger brother, who was looking at his twenty-one year old brother with hope. “I would give anything to give up the past centuries I’ve lived away.”

            “What does Schwarz have to do with this, though?”

            “Schwarz is a bad man.” Rot’s eyes flashed dangerously. “Do not go close to him. You’ll find every thought and feeling that makes you who you are sucked up and turned around.”

            “He saved me when I had collapsed on the street, though.”

            “It was not truly him who spotted you at first. His cousin, Blau Mondstein, was the one who noticed you. Schwarz snapped at his cousin, and despite his bitterness to Schwarz, Blau knew that he loved his cousin and went to find me. He was deathly afraid of Aurora, and what she showed him in order for him to come to me has ripped apart most of his soul. Schwarz does not even realize that his cousin’s soul may fall apart any second now.”

            “Is Aurora that scary?”

            Rot shook his head with a smile. “No, she is loving. While she may not be sweet natured, she truly does care for you. No one who she loves will ever doubt her connection with them. You have met her, although you do not remember. She ripped apart your soul too, but she helped you put it together again. She smiled at you, and because of this, you will be blessed.”

            “How does one Guardian have so much power?”

            “The four cardinal sisters all cast some of their powers, as well as bits of the Gods’ contribution, to create Aurora. It wasn’t enough. There wasn’t enough wood in the world to have a Priestess of Wood, so they decided on metal instead. They came to me for help, actually, so I assisted in the creation of the most powerful priestess.”

            “What would happen if she was more powerful than the others?”

            “If the Priestesses thought it necessary, they could kill her. If Aurora killed the four sisters first, however, it will either be the gods or me who destroys her.”

            “Would you destroy her if it was to your gain?” Shueva asked quietly.

            There was a long pause.

            “Yes. Yes, I would.”

            “Schwarz. Wake up.”

            “Let me sleep.”

            “You’ve been asleep for too long. Rot disappeared with Weiβ nearly a week ago.”

            “Why didn’t I go after them?”

            “You were knocked out.”

            “How?”

            “Rot threw a bomb of his own creation. He is a metal alchemist, remember?”
            “I have to find Shueva…”

            “Why Shueva? Is he not the Prince Weiβ?”

            “Blau… Blau, tell me, do you want to rule the Underworld?”

            “Why do you ask that? You were the one who rightfully claimed the throne.”

            “I need to know.”

            “If I were given the choice between inheriting the throne and killing my father or living with him and being a common peasant, I would chose the latter.”

            “Did you love your father that much? You never spoke to him, Blau.”

            “Love does not have to be in words. There are many forms of love, many you do not know.”

            “Is there a form of love that comes in pain?”

            “Oh, there are many, cousin. Some even say that love does not come without pain.”

            “And what of indifference?”

            “There is a thin line between love and hatred. It is often crossed. But indifference is on another scale. To love or hate proves that you have a heart. To be indifferent, it is like having a rock for a heart.”

            “Would you say Shueva was indifferent?”

            “I would say that Weiβ was the opposite of me. If Hellrot had truly tested the boundaries of tradition and the gods’ will by wrongly naming his firstborn son, then Weiβ would actually be named Rot. Do you consider me indifferent? I have a restless, moody soul like the wild oceans. Weiβ flickers on and off, sometimes cool like ash and sometimes as wild as an uncontrollable fire of nature. If he were my opposite, he would be angered when I was at peace and at peace while I was riled up.”

            “Do you truly believe that Hellrot would wrongly name a child?”

            “Cousin. You know by now that no one is truly good or evil. I know this for a fact.”

            “How?”

            “You, cousin, are Schwarz, destined to be the King of the Underworld. I know you’ve been considering giving up the throne, but rethink this for a second. You kill those with ease and without conscience, and yet, when it comes to the Prince of the Light, you feel self-conscious and feel the need to dwell in the darkness. You have positive feelings towards him. You worry about him and about your own morals. You want to take care of him, and you don’t want to watch Rot corrupt his own brother. You can love; you are capable of it. But you are not capable of trust.”

            “What do you mean? Are you saying that I did not trust you?”

            “That too, but you don’t trust Rot. Even if he seems twisted, no one can completely be full of hate. Even if they are, they can be changed. Anyone can be changed.”

            “Should I have faith and trust that he will take care of his brother?”

            “He is his brother first and foremost. Rot wants the throne badly, I could see the hunger in his eyes. He wants revenge against Hellrot. He would be prepared to go into the Void and get his father out himself.”

            “Why?”

            “His father imprisoned Rot and his younger brother. Rot protested the most to Weiβ’s imprisonment in the Alternate. He actually fought to have his brother remain in the Overworld, but Hellrot and Rot had a spectacular fight. It nearly killed the both of them, until Hellrot realized that he could not die. Rot was the one he always thought would retaliate. He thought Rot would be the one to attempt to kill him. But you were always quiet when you were young, Schwarz. You walked around with silent steps, skulking in the shadows of others. My father trusted you to be a man who would fight fairly, and he was right. You challenged him in a fair duel and he lost, losing his life.”

            “It’s a cruel system, Blau. It feels… feudal. It is as if we cannot love for we must eventually kill those we do.”

            “Our people are feral, untamed and unused to the society of peace. Even Angels can be violent.”

            “I’ve seen scriptures of the ancient times. They said that angels were messengers of God, knowing only harmony and goodwill. What happened to that idea?”

            “Perhaps it was wishful thinking. Not even the gods know only harmony and goodwill.”

            “No one is perfectly good or perfectly evil, right, Blau?”

            “You’ve known it all along, but you won’t believe it. You’re not all bad, Schwarz, you’re not. Even you’ve got good in you.”

            “I don’t know if this makes me jubilant or miserable, Blau.”

            “Why? I thought you would be delighted to know you’re not completely terrible.”

            “I grew up thinking I was. If I had known I didn’t have to be like that… would I have turned out differently? And also, if Rot is my inverse, does this mean that he, who is supposed to be mostly good, is filled with evil also?”

            “I think that the pair of kings and the inversion of personalities was a trait that developed by the angels and demons. None of us have ever seen or spoken to the Gods. There are a few blessed ones who hear from them, but only the Priestesses maintain contact with their all-knowing eyes. I don’t believe that anyone could be the exact opposite of you. It would be impossible to keep up with.”

            “What do you mean?”

            “You think of yourself as an evil man with good intentions. An inverse would mean that Rot would think himself a good man with evil intentions. But people can change.”

            “We aren’t people.”

            “Anything with a heart can change. Hellrot was cruel to his children, and he killed their mother after she bore Weiβ. More heirs meant more of a chance one of them would kill him. Because of this, Rot, who would normally be a kind-hearted boy like his brother, became a dark-hearted child with his hatred ruling him. Weiβ was locked up in the Alternate, unable to converse with any of the people. They performed a spell so strong that even his body had been shoved into the Alternate, and that is why the Millennium Bond was there. If only your mind was there, it would be simple for someone to simply wake you up. Well, it would surely not be simple, but it would be possible. The Millennium Bond’s purpose was to restore a body, a process that required much more energy. In fact, after the Night Monster’s trial, it left the Night Monster so weak that she could barely stand. To recreate a body like Weiβ’s body, it is possible she could be near death.”

            “Does this mean that the other four priestesses will kill the fifth? I heard the Gods mentioning that Aurora held too much power.”

            “No. They will nurse her to health and she will feel indebted to the others. She will change on her own.”

            “How do you know this, Blau?”

            “Because I know how a heart works.”

            “It pumps blood… everyone knows that.”

            “I’m talking about a spiritual heart. Some spiritual hearts are very small, some are very cold like ice, and yet others are so big, if they were in the tangible world it wouldn’t fit in their bodies. People with big hearts will never be cold, because their warmth will stay with them forever.”

            “So are you saying that like Rot changed into someone different, I could change too?”

            “We have free will, the gods allowed us that. They never stopped our war to give us a chance to think this over. And that’s the problem- nobody ever thought, in all those years of warfare, that it could be ended. There are foolish wishers who give up everything can to ensure a savior will rise. The truth is, anyone and everyone could be a savior. All it takes is realization.”

            “But people see the world in black and white, like you, Schwarz. Even our names are black and white, blue and red, dark blue and light read. The kings before had names that were opposites also. The war only extends to the Overworld and Underworld, and not into the Medium. You must’ve noticed that all the people flock to the Medium now. It is a place of gray, of in-betweens and maybes. There is no definite answer.”

            “What about all the prophecies?”

            “The people expect their worries to fade away like fairy tales. Anyone could be wrong as surely as any one could be right. I see the truth now.”

            “Your vision was always good, Blau.”

            “Thanks. But do you also see the truth?”

            “The truth in what? That the prophecies were wrong?”

            “It isn’t about right and wrong… If I drew a chair from one angle, someone on the opposite side of the room would call it wrong. Their picture would look different from mine because they saw it from a different angle than me.”

            “It all depends on how you look at anything. The prophecies about Prince Weiβ were true in some sense. It helped guide you to your destiny, didn’t it? The foolish people who gave up what was most precious of them were only showing their faith in the strongest way possible.”

           “Prophecies, like rumors, are sparked from some sort of main idea. Sometimes they get warped into untruthful gossip, but other times, most of it is true. If you really want to find out where it came from, you have search for the source.”

            “That’s true… Schwarz, do you know what you have to do now?”

            “I only know what I’m not supposed to do. But there’s one thing I still don’t understand.”

            “Ask me.”

            “When did you get so wise?”

            “Perhaps you’ve never just realized my genius.”

            “Now you sound like you normally do, Blau… if our lives can be changed, that means our destinies can be changed. Our destinies and our fate can all be changed.”

            “Do you believe we have some say on what goes on in our life? Isn’t destiny and fate preordained?”

            “A glass on the edge of the table is preordained to fall due to the laws of physics applying to our world. What if it was on another planet, where the gravity was less? It would not fall as fast. What if there was no tablecloth? What if just previously, the owner of the glass decided the glass was not suitable for entertaining young guests and replaced it with a plastic cup instead? Fate is constantly changing like our lives based on decisions we make in the presence. That is why we can remember the past but we do not know the future. Things change.”

            “Good job, Schwarz. I think you’ll be okay.”

            “Blau… are you heavy-hearted?”

            “Why do you ask?”

            “I was thinking of when you actually leapt in and protected me. I remembered how you normally were so light-hearted, and I was… I was worried. I didn’t know if you were okay or not.”

            “I admit that I was hurt. But a little Prince of the Waters isn’t going to die because of a little heartache.”

            “He isn’t?”

            “It takes stronger stuff than words to kill me.”

            “Like bombs or maniacal princes out for revenge?”

            “Haha, very funny, Schwarz. But yeah, I guess. It takes that to kill a Prince of the Waters. Schwarz, listen to me. You’re strong and you know it. Don’t think you can let your heart take you everywhere; use your head too. Think of it as advise from a much wiser younger cousin. And I forgive you, Schwarz. Have a good, long rest.”

            “Schwarz? Schwarz? Wake up!”

            “Hmm… Blau? I thought I was already awake…” Schwarz opened his heavy-lidded eyes.

            He had expected to see Blau’s young face and strangely white hair. Instead, he was met with a young woman with long blonde hair. She wasn’t like Blau, who was scrawny, she was very thin and frail. Her blue eyes seemed fake in comparison to his cousin’s true ocean eyes.

            “Asiah? Why are you here?”

            “Oh, Schwarz.” Asiah’s horrendous eyes moistened and soon overflowed with tears.

            “Why are you back?” Schwarz narrowed his eyes, trying to sit up.

            “Don’t.” Asiah warned suddenly, in between sobs. “Prince Rot of the Overworld is one wicked alchemist. He’s been practicing for centuries. You’ve got metal imbedded in minute shards all the way down to your heart. With all of the iron and other natural metals flowing through your blood, Rot could decide to have it expand at any second.”

            “That means… I’ll explode.”

            “Right.” Asiah confirmed, wiping her tears away with a soggy sleeve. “I managed to have Doctor Umbrael from Vivacity take out most of the large shards. If you move, some of the metal still stuck in your skin is going to cut through you, and it’s going to hurt like hell.” Her eyes were dark.

            “Where’s Blau?” Schwarz demanded, suspicions filling him. He had barely felt anything wrong with him except a few open cuts. Blau had stood in front of him as he fell to his knees, so he would take most of any attack the bomb had to offer.

            As if it were timed, a huge sob erupted from another room.

            “Who’s that?” Schwarz asked as he heard a strangely familiar, stressed voice try to calm the one who was sobbing.

            “A nice girl from a village near Sieryuu. I think her name is Hana.” Asiah looked distant. “Hana, please come in.”

            After a moment, Hana entered followed by Nathan. Nathan’s eyes were sad even if he looked stoic, and Hana looked like a disaster. Her eyes were red and puffy, and tears still streaked down her cheek.

            “What’s wrong?” Schwarz sat up, alarmed, and flinched as he collapsed.

            “I warned you.” Asiah’s gaze was definite.

            “I don’t care.” Schwarz grumbled.

            “He- He- He told me was going to die… in my dreams…” Hana whispered.

            “Who was going to die?”

            “Oh Schwarz.” Asiah’s eyes were sad. “I wish we didn’t have to tell you. It would be more devastating if you were flying and found him lying under the rubble, though.” Her eyes were bitter. “He saved you, Schwarz. Don’t forget that.”

            “What?” Schwarz wasn’t registering any of the words coming out of Asiah’s mouth. She could be rambling about sushi for all he cared. What did she mean? Why was Hana sobbing?

            Hana collapsed at the foot of Schwarz’s bed. “I had fallen asleep on the rocks again. I remembered he sat there… and he came. I thought it was a hallucination, but he whispered good-bye. I didn’t know what he meant, so I called Nathan and we came to Vivacity as fast as we could. We found Doctor Umbrael, and we came to Somnolent. Blau had told me where to find you, and we met Asiah on the way. She had been looking for Nathan, and found Blau instead. When we lifted the rubble away… you were under him. He must’ve been standing in front of you. The whole front of his body was… was…”

            She couldn’t continue anymore. It was harsh to let her explain what happened to her enchanting Prince of the Seas.

            Asiah took up her duty. “It was obvious he was trying to block the attack with water, but if he was facing Rot like you were mumbling, Rot has the ability to manipulate any rules regarding metal, at least to his usage. I know this because I used to be his nurse.”

            “But… does this mean Blau’s dead?” Schwarz blinked, unbelieving. It was like a small child being told Santa Claus wasn’t real.

            “Yes, it does.” Asiah looked away, her face cold. “Blau was a nice boy. It’s such a shame.”

            “How could you just say ‘It’s such a shame’ like Blau is road kill? H-He affected people’s lives! You can’t just say something so casually!” Hana protested.

            “To some people, he was just ‘a nice boy’ and his death was just ‘a shame.’” Schwarz realized that the Blau he was talking to must have been a dream. If it was truly Blau, he had gotten a lot wiser after death. “It all depends on what angle you look at it…”

            Asiah gave him a knowing look and Hana looked merely confused, but upset that he was not defending her.

            “Wait! He’s a demon- couldn’t he be reincarnated?”

            “It’s not true reincarnation, sweet.” Asiah sighed. “I think I’ve been reincarnated at least twice now. The body you have upon becoming an angel or a demon for the first time cannot be completely obliterated upon death. If your wings are ripped out, then it’s possible to be reborn. Also, some people chose not to be reborn. I had to stick around and make sure people made the right choices.”

            “Stop acting like you know everything!” Hana shouted. “How could anyone chose not to be reborn?”

            “I know quite a few.” Doctor Umbrael walked in with a cool composure. “I knew Blau would be one of those people because of the way he thought. His life, to him, was finished. He didn’t have anything to do if he returned except to make a nuisance of himself. Every time you become reincarnated, you are taking the chance away from another’s life. In a way, you are killing someone somewhere to come back again.” He explained, but the corners of his lips tugged downwards in sadness. “Many of my patients feel that they do not need to come back upon death.”

            “The Alternate… the Alternate does not exist anymore.” Schwarz realized suddenly. “Blau must’ve stuck around for a long time to make this decision. He knew the Alternate had collapsed; he must’ve known that his soul would be sent to the Void, unable to be retrieved.”

            “But I don’t get it! Blau’s body was badly cut up, true, but there was no way anyone could heal his earthly body and have it come back to life?” Hana was still stuck on the idea of reincarnation.

            “Demons are just like humans, only we now live in a world with second chances. Some people don’t even need second chances, and those people are the ones who will eventually come again in another time, another place, and possibly another universe. People like that don’t ever die.” Doctor Umbrael chose his words carefully.

            “Hana…” Nathan started. “I know you feel grief. Let those feelings free so everyone can share it and it will diminish.”

            “Just like sharing joy. As it spreads out, it will only increase.” Asiah smiled to Hana, who hesitantly let a small grin creep onto her face.

            “I don’t think Blau would like it if she never smiled, either.” Schwarz said decidedly as Nathan led his sister from the room. “I don’t know if he really loved her or not, but it was just another person he could share his heart with to him.” Schwarz sighed heavily. “When someone like him dies, people all around the world mourn.”

            “King Schwarz.” Doctor Umbrael asked suddenly. “I need to ask you. Do you know what you are going to do about the two sons of Hellrot?”

            “How do you know?” Schwarz asked, surprised. Doctor Umbrael neared him and finished extracting some of the last metallic shards that were visible.

            “Asiah told me.” Asiah nodded tersely, as if she were not sure if he approved of this or not.

            “I don’t know what I will do. Rot is supposed to be the one I am destined to rule against. But wait- was Rot born of a concubine?”

            “No.” Asiah shook his head. “His mother the Queen was almost about to abort him because of all the grief her husband gave her. He was born nonetheless and Hellrot, not wanting to admit he had a true heir, announced that he was the son of himself and a concubine.”

            “What about Weiβ?” Doctor Umbrael’s eyes flashed nervously. “If it is true that he was the weaker, quieter one, his life was still tied to Blau’s. The gods named Rot and Schwarz to be one pair, and Weiβ and Blau to be another. If they are tied, then Weiβ may die in the near future.”

            “Weiβ?” For a second, Schwarz’s mind dashed with a thousand different ways to die. Blau’s voice was still nagging at his mind, however, constantly reminding his cousin that fate could be changed.

            Fate could be changed.

            He could still manipulate everything that occurred in the future. The pairs and name traditions were not created by the gods, they were created by the people and their superstitious myths.

It didn’t matter who became king of the Overworld now. He just needed one of them to take the place, but he had a dangerous idea for peace. He desperately needed it more than anything he had ever needed before, and if this failed, he would be doomed.

             “Aniki? ANIKI!” Shueva called into the wilderness, fright of being left alone taking control. Being with his older brother made him feel ten years old again, despite both of them living centuries.

            “Sorry, Otouto!” Rot came through the forests covered in slimy water, smirking. “This fish was particularly elusive. There’s not much fish left in these parts, so it’s a feast!” He held up a wriggling fish by the tail with his left hand, his smile youthful and mischievous.

            “Aniki, listen to me.” Shueva’s gaze was clear and crisp. “There’s someone here to see you, and it’s rather urgent.”

            “Hello.” Rot turned to see the person that Shueva was blocking earlier.

            “Killing my cousin wasn’t very nice.” Schwarz spoke with an even voice and a steady gaze on Rot. The fish in his hand squirmed to be freed but Rot did not flinch at all.

            “Did I do that? My apologies.” Rot grinned widely. “I was only trying to sabotage my otouto’s rival.”

            “Surely, you must be very informed of all the extras that comes with killing Shueva’s rival.”

            “Yes. In due time, Weiβ will die.” Rot said offhandedly, stressing the name ‘Weiβ.’

            “You don’t care?”

            Rot glanced at Shueva. “Sorry, Otouto, but this is part of my revenge.” The fish flew into the air, forgotten, as Rot pushed Shueva aside roughly. Shueva’s eyes narrowed but he watched as Rot generated a bow and arrow made out of pure titanium from the slime on his body. Sparkling and wielding a dazzling new bow, he aimed it at Schwarz, who leapt up and flipped backwards to distance himself from Rot.

            Rot shot one of his titanium arrows at Schwarz, who summoned a dark material from his hands. The arrow flew into the dark material but did not pierce Schwarz. Instead, it flew backwards and at Rot, who narrowly dodged out of the way. The arrow flipped past his cheek, causing a small cut.

            “What was that?” He demanded.

            It looked as if he had ripped a whole in the entire time space continuum.

            “I guided the arrow into the warp, causing it to go far enough to begin to turn back. In the warp, my own laws of physics apply and I could swing it at you. I belong to the shadows, Rot.” With that, Schwarz faded away into the dark leafiness of the forest and reappeared behind Rot.

            “I’m sorry, but I have to kill you.” He whispered, and Rot froze. His hand turned to metal as he struggled to free Schwarz’s powerful grip from his neck.

            Shueva watched the scene play before him, not sure what to do.

            His brother frightened him so. But he was family… And Schwarz had saved his life. It was obvious that Schwarz loved him in some way, even if it was very subtle. Schwarz loved him the way he loved Blau, like a cousin he wanted to protect. Schwarz hadn’t hurt him yet. Would he in the future?

            Shueva wondered if it would matter to him if anyone hurt him in the future. It would be so cowardly to run right now, but it was in his nature. Blau had been so quiet earlier, but Shueva could sense his fidgety way of life. If Blau was his opposite, he was supposed to be as quiet as he was.

            Who decided he would be like that?

            Shueva looked up to see Schwarz aiming his free hand at him. A dark blanket enveloped him as he felt himself knocked backwards, unconscious.

            “You didn’t want your poor Shueva to witness a murder, hmm? The murder of his Onii-chan, no less.” Rot smirked as Schwarz’s left arm firmly clamped around his neck. Schwarz’s right hand flipped around smoothly until a blade made completely of the air dark material formed.

            “This is a thousand times sharper than your blades, Rot. It is completely metal free, so you can’t alter it.”

            “Uh-uh-uh!” Rot scolded Schwarz. “Need I remind if you that the iron and metal shards floating through your blood stream is metal indeed? If I were to have it, oh, let’s say expand, your body would explode in seconds.”

            Schwarz frowned. “Your existence is tied to mine. If I die-“

            “Then I shall die also.” Rot did not seem fazed. “I will have enough time to extract my revenge.”

            “You don’t care about even your own life?”

            “I only care about revenge and my Otouto.” Rot snarled, flipping Schwarz over. Schwarz leapt up immediately and drew the deadly sharp blade to Rot’s neck. Even the air seemed to be cut by this knife.

            “It can cut through dimensions. I used this same material to break free into the Alternate world, Rot. At least I tried to find Shueva!”

            “You are not even of our family! Stop meddling in our affairs!” Rot boomed.

            “You are his family, Rot! Where were you? Where were you in the centuries that Shueva was trapped? Where-“

            Where-

            Where-

            Where am I?

            Everything seemed so familiar, but it was not. He could see them now. He recognized Hellrot’s booming, commanding voice immediately. He had expected Hellrot to be a fat, arrogant, spoiled pig, but quite on the contrary, he was a skinny man. His hair was bright and flaming like fire and his eyes held a feral sense to them. So this was the man that had caused his family so much torment… his own father…

            Shueva’s eyes landed on an elegant woman. She was very tall, but was still shorter than her husband. Her white-blonde hair was folded elegantly in an elaborate hairstyle. She must be his mother. She looked startlingly like himself, only her eyes were not blue.

            He looked from his mother’s peaceful gray eyes to his father’s mahogany. Where did he get his blue eyes? Perhaps his eyes were original?

            Rot… I cannot let you inherit the throne.

            His mother’s frown deepened.

            Surely you will not expect Weiβ to take the throne. He is not fit for ruling..

            His father’s response to his wife was terse.

            Of course not. Neither son is suitable.

            His mother protested, however.

            Rot is very powerful. Are you afraid of having an heir planned? Are you afraid of eventually dying, Hellrot? Everything will come to an end, even angels and demons.

            Rot is not suitable for this throne. I cannot let him follow me.

            Why not Weiβ then?

            Weiβ is far too soft… his kind-hearted personality will not command a strong, ruthless force.

            But we are the angels, Hellrot! Why must we fight?

            That is what every king before me has done. I will not break tradition.

            You already broke tradition by naming Rot wrongly! You know-

            Quiet, woman!

            The slap was deafening as his mother staggered away. She crumbled to a heap in the hallway. Shueva felt himself growing tense. He looked beside him to see his confident Aniki, only he called him Onii-chan back then.

            Rot… come forward. His father commanded. Rot stepped forward carefully, as if one wrong move would trigger time bombs.

            You are very strong. I cannot let you inherit the throne.

            Are you afraid I will overthrow your power, Father?

            I am afraid you will let your power overwhelm you like it did to me.

            You don’t even have enough power to be overwhelmed with, old man.

            You had best watch your tongue, boy. His father’s tone was crisp but he eyed Rot with a sense of admiration. You have a better heart to rule than your weaker brother. Because I named you wrongly, you will have to overcome more barriers than normal to rediscover your destiny. I threw off fate. It’s like a gamble, really.

            So you gambled my life away.

            Not quiet. With all prophecies of saviors comes the price one must pay. The one who will end this war that has become tradition lose their life.

            Is that all it said?

            Rot’s laughter resounded through the halls. You are more of a fool than I thought, Father. I am disappointed in you.

            The lights started to grow brighter as the black faded away. Shueva’s eyes popped open suddenly as he stared at Schwarz holding the blade to his brother’s neck.

            “One wrong move and every shard of metal I embedded in you earlier will expand, shattering you from the inside out.

            “One wrong move and this blade will fly through your throat. The dark materials will eat you slowly, causing you to suffer much more than I will.”

            “Perhaps the metal shall expand slowly…” They traded death taunts as they encircled each other, two lone wolves about to rise to the challenge of a fight.

            Did he have any powers whatsoever? His wings widened and spread out as Schwarz’s dark wings grew. Rot’s wings were tinged a reddish, orange color that suited him.

            Schwarz suddenly whipped his head towards Shueva. “Don’t you know the ‘prophecies?’”

            Shueva blinked. “I thought you did not believe them. You told me that earlier, when you came looking for Aniki.”

            Schwarz laughed. “Even foolish prophecies have shreds of truth. It said that Weiβ was a metal alchemist!”

            “But my brother is-“

            “Have you ever tried, boy?” Surprisingly, Rot was glaring at his brother. “You- Otouto. Whatever you wish to call yourself, Shueva, Weiβ, it matters not what your name is. When did you get so weak and feeble?”

            “I’m not weak!” Shueva protested.

            “You have not shown a single sign that you are strong.” Schwarz leaned in closer, pulling the blade up to Rot’s chin. “Try, or this blade will fly through your brother. Attack me.”

            Rot did not seem to mind as his life hung on edge. “I’ve seen the cliff where life spirals into death several times, and I must say, this time, the view is the greatest.” He inhaled deeply. “I don’t think my otouto will ever get near you, Schwarz-san.” Rot’s eyes drifted to Shueva, who was small and meek beside the tree. “Even when we were young, he didn’t question Father’s judgment at all. It was a disgrace, and frankly, Father was disgraced.”

            “I thought he hated you!” Shueva exclaimed.

            “He admired me. He admired the fire in my heart; it was very similar to the fire he had in his.” Rot answered. “But he knew from your birth that it was not he that changed fate and named wrongly. It was Dunkleblau who made the flaw.”

            “How did you know this?” Even Schwarz looked surprised now.

            Rot explained, “Dunkleblau named his nephew as Schwarz, hoping to bring Weiβ into the world. It would end the fighting forever, before his son was involved in this. It was how he showed-“

            “-that’s how he showed his love.” Schwarz finished for him. “So when you were born, Rot, an obvious man of fire and not the one fit to be named Weiβ, destiny could not be changed. For the first time in ages, the tradition was broken. Only the Kings knew this. This was just to prove that the names were spawn of the traditions of humans.”

            “The Gods had no impact on our destinies nor our names?” Shueva looked surprised.

            “Of course. How absurd would it be if Blau, Prince of the Waters, was born as Rot, meaning ‘red?’ It would be ridiculous. You were named after who you are. If you cried and fussed, you might end up with a name like mine.” Rot grinned widely. “If you were like Otouto who came out and smiled brightly at the sun, you’d be named Weiβ.”

            “Then why are you two even fighting?” Shueva blinked, utterly confused.

            “Because we both found the exact same way to have this ‘legendary battle’ commence without involving anyone else. We have to take it out here, the two kings.”

            “You two were not coronated.” Shueva’s eyes widened.

            “It doesn’t matter. In presence, we are kings. Rot is the oldest son of Hellrot, and I killed Dunkleblau in a fair fight. One of us will die, of course, but it will be over.”

            “Why does someone always have to die?”

            “Because… that is the way everything works.” Rot and Schwarz looked at Shueva.

            “Our world functions that way.” The two answered without a doubt.

            “You’re telling me not to listen what others say… and yet you submit to the commands of the world without a doubt?”

            “It is not only so, Otouto.” Rot grinned. “We both believe the same thing… and because we share this belief, we can accomplish things. Even if it means we will die.”

            Shueva recalled the strange memory-like sequence he just had. “Father! Father said that the one who will end this war will lose their life…”

            Rot burst into laughter. “Father was a paranoid fool, to afraid of death to realize what it meant. The ending of a war always means either a surrender or the death of a leader, and none of us will ever surrender.”

            “We both believe in fighting to the end or perishing.” Schwarz smiled as the blade drew nearer and Rot’s hand raised, ready to have the shards of metal explode at any second.

            “It is a belief we have that is so strong, we are willing to give up our lives for it.”

            There were beliefs like this before… in the past, people would do anything for their Gods. They would bow and worship and commit days to regularly thanking them for their guidance. There were those who were so against war they chained themselves to poles. There were those who were speared, stoned, ripped apart, or crucified, all for their beliefs. The people of the past were truly those who lived with their heart, and not their heads. What crazy fools. Shueva thought of this, a small smile playing on his lips.

            “Oh, yes.” Rot pulled out a small glowing orb. “It’s the memories of Shueva Ilcard.” He turned to his younger brother. “Otouto, you’re regaining some of your memories, but it’s very selective. But it’s also got the lovely bonding time you had with Schwarz in here.”

           “It’s not much. If Shueva wants to, he can destroy it.” Schwarz looked at Rot with a bittersweet smile as he leapt back. Rot had created another sword and placed the delicate orb on a small metal table.

            “I want to shatter it.” Rot whispered slowly to Schwarz. “And you want to protect it. Beat me there and it will remain in one piece. If I get there first, not only will the loss of all these memories forever cause Shueva to go into a physical state of shock, you will also break into pieces.”

            Shueva sat down, watching them taunt and take haphazard stabs at each other with a strange sort of peace. This was the oddest thing he had every seen his life.

            He didn’t want his memories anymore. This physical shock they were talking about… he had felt it before. It was during the Trials. He could piece all the pieces together now based on the information others gave him. Obviously, when Aurora took his memories, it had thrust him into a state similar to comatose that it had given his body the time to materialize in the Reality.

            This was the Reality? Everything around him seemed ethereal. The two fighting in front of him had no real heart in their moves. They merely hopped around, jumping from place to place and spitting smart insults at each other.

            “So you really are Weiβ the Alchemist.” A familiar voice danced in Shueva’s ear.

            “Who is this?” Shueva mumbled, feeling strangely sleepy.

            “Lanterna, of course.” The voice chirped in the exact way she did. He looked around dizzily for her, but she giggled. “Raiikou is helping me send this message to you. I heard about Rot, the forgotten Prince, and Schwarz. They’re fighting now, aren’t they?”

            Shueva nodded, but realized that she couldn’t see him. “Relax, I’m seeing into your mind. I know what you’re doing. Don’t worry, I’m not peeking into anything either. Besides, you’ve got this big locked door I can’t get into.”

            “That must be my hidden memories. You might want to get away from there, Lanterna.” Shueva stumbled through his words in a sleepy murmur. “The ball containing my memories might shatter any second. That door might explode, and all of the contents inside of it will be totally obliterated.”

            “Thanks for the warning.” She said dryly. “Listen. Remember how I taught you to fly? I’m gonna teach you how to use your alchemy powers.”

            “You didn’t really teach me, Lanterna. I always knew.”

            “Exactly.”

            “Oh.” Shueva smacked his head. Of course. It was always the hidden powers trick Lanterna pulled on him. “You’re not going to kick me in front of a train and expect me to transform the train into a bird or something, are you?”

            “Now, that’s a good idea. But I won’t. Instead, wake up.”

            “I’m awake.”

            “No you’re not. Shueva, you have to get more in focus with your senses. I blame bad parenting. Getting locked up in an alternate universe really messes up your sense of being. Doesn’t everything around you feel a little fake?”

            He felt nothing but grogginess, but he watched as Rot and Schwarz danced back and forth, not even coming close to touching each other. He blinked, and thought he saw them both dripping in blood. He blinked again, and their flawless skin glimmered with perspiration from the fight.

            “Open your real eyes, Shueva, not the one you have in your head.”

            “What? Are you talking about a third eye?”

            “Your third eye is blind, did you know that?” Lanterna sounded pleased with yourself. “Everyone’s third eye sees what it wants to see, and you’ve obviously got a vision impairment.”

            “Then they’re not fighting?”

            “Oh, they are. It’s just slightly more intense than you think it is.”

            Blink.

            There they were, two figures trenched in sweat and blood, and a mixture of the two. Rot’s already red clothes were stained a deeper crimson. A trail of blood went down his lips. He had been stabbed by Schwarz’s blade in the shoulder, which must’ve meant that he moved away fast enough to escape a blow in the chest.

            Schwarz’s dark hair was not tied back any more, and hung down, shadowing his eyes. His breathing was heavy and most of his body had been lacerated. Shards of metal remained embedded in the skin. It looked like Rot was winning.

            “Do you want any of them to die?” Lanterna’s voice asked quietly.

            “No, of course not. But they won’t surrender-“

            “Think of the different ways to love, and the black and white ways of seeing everything.”

            “But they said there’s only two ways-“

            “They said themselves that they will not listen to anyone else. Only because their beliefs are so strong and so similar do they even commence in fighting. They both believe that fighting just between the two of them will leave out the hundreds of thousands of casualties in a full-blown war.” Lanterna reminded Shueva.

            “What did Hellrot want?” Shueva asked suddenly. “Do you know?”

            “It is common knowledge that Hellrot was an insanely powerful man afraid of death.”

            “Those afraid of death are likely to bury themselves amidst others, even if they were as strong as my father.” Shueva pondered, the words ‘my father’ sounding strange on his tongue. “He would most likely opt for a full-blown war, complete with armies and the inevitable casualties.”

            “Rot thinks this will be his way of revenge. Can you think of how?”

            Rot had flung shards of metal at Schwarz, who did not move out of the way in time. He groaned as he slumped downwards, the shards lining up in a row on his chest. He disappeared into the ground and reappeared behind Rot. He yanked the shards out of his chest and stabbed it into Rot, who was not suspecting being attacked by his own weapons. After he recovered from the shock, the metal melted away, but he made the mistake of also melting some of Schwarz’s metal.

           “Rot was isolated when he grew up, separated from everyone except the icy Aurora. He had a fiery personality himself, but I suppose his fire must’ve melted Aurora’s icy exterior. He could control metal, but it seems strange. Why would he have two specialties?”

            “It doesn’t matter that Rot is named for ‘red,’ he has the powers a prince of light would have.” Lanterna spoke decidedly. “His specialty is not metal, and until he realizes this, it will not be a true fight.”

            “King Schwarz is fighting ‘King’ Rot… it is the Shadow King against…” Shueva understood. “Of course! The Light King! It’ll match up evenly once Rot realizes that he is the Light King! Does that make me-“

            “The true metal alchemist.” Lanterna’s voice melted away.

            It came naturally, the way flying had first occurred when he spread his wings and found himself thirty feet above the ground. All the metal embedded in Schwarz melted away, and Shueva decidedly disintegrated the extra, minute shards of metal in Schwarz’s blood stream. It was a scene out of a storybook, but Shueva felt his happiness fading away as he separated the two.

            “As a prince of the Overworld, am I allowed to surrender?” He asked wearily, his voice soft and quiet.

            “Never.” Rot snarled through his cage. “I can bend this, Otouto. I am also an metal alchemist.”

            “But your powers are not nearly as powerful as hits.” A dark aura of rage started to emit from Schwarz as a white aura emitted from Rot.

            “Weiβ had the ability to end the war, correct?” Shueva asked as Schwarz and Rot confirmed this.

            “The war will end only when you two agree that it is over, which you will not do unless one of you dies, correct?”

            “Or surrender from one of us, which we will not accept.” Rot pointed out.

            “And what of me?” Shueva walked over to the small table with the glass ball. A swirling fog twirled inside of it. “So this is my memory…” He turned to Rot. “How could so many years be contained in such a small ball? My memories must have not been very important…” He turned to Schwarz. “I don’t remember you at all.” He whispered, his voice cold and deadly. “I don’t know you, I don’t know what you did, how you’re related to me, or anything about the Alternate. I will never know, for that universe and all the memories I left behind in it are gone.”

            “Along with Aurora.” Rot smiled bitter sweetly. “Because her role was gone, they decided to make her the vessel the Alternate would be stored in, and they thrust her into the Void.”

            “The gods are very loving.” Schwarz snorted.

            “They must not set very good examples upon those who believe in them.” Shueva wondered as he threw the ball up and kicked it. It shattered as it hit a tree, but Shueva did not flinch. “They do not practice peace and expect us, like newborns, to find the way by ourselves in the dark.”

            “Why aren’t you collapsing in shock?” Rot seemed surprise. “The shock should’ve paralyzed your mind for at least a few days.”

            “I never had these memories, so how could I lose them?” Shueva’s eyes seemed magnified and every inch of his soul leaked through. “You two only need to agree for the war to be over, right?”

            “It would make no difference.” Schwarz admitted grimly. “We need only official proof that we fought the final battle and ended it.”

            “We checked through every other way, Otouto.” Rot’s voice was soft. “If one of us surrenders, the other will take over their land. The only way to keep us separate and without killing each other is someone’s life, and it must be one of the kings.”

            “These idiots don’t realize that I am even King Rot instead of King Weiβ. They think I am you, Otouto.” Rot laughed quietly to himself inside the bars. “Lift us.”

            “Why?” Shueva’s eyes had gone blank, as if part of his former self had been lost. “I feel so weary, so tired… this is all pointless.”

            He suddenly whirred around and stared at Schwarz straight in the eyes. He stooped in close and tilted Schwarz’s chin upwards to look at him.

            “Your twilight eyes indicate the setting sun, and my daybreak eyes mean beginnings. Look at my eyes now, Mr. Twilight. Look at it now, Mr. Sunshine.” Shueva commanded, and reluctantly, Schwarz glanced up. He fell backwards in surprise. “They’re gray…”

            “Grau Auge. Gray eyes… gray like Mother’s, right, Aniki? Gray like death.” He titled his head to stare at Rot, who was looking away. “None of you will stop until someone dies, right? It’s always a sacrifice that will end the wars… if you’re trapped on a ship during a storm, you throw someone off to appease the gods. It’s smooth sailing from there, and you forget about the person you tossed off. Maybe it will happen here. If I die, maybe it’ll all end.” He grinned widely, his dull gray eyes shining with a different glow. It was unhealthy. He raised his hand up and watched as it transformed into a silver drill. He aimed it towards his heart and closed his eyes.

            He heard nothing more, but felt a deafening series of light and shadows dance behind him. He hit the ground, all the pent-up pain in his heart flowing out freely. His crimson sadness leaked through and his consciousness became fuzzy, before all senses, even the icy coldness of the wintry night, faded away.

            “Is he okay?”

            “I can’t say okay, Schwarz, but he’ll live.”

            “You couldn’t have forcefully reincarnated him?”

            “We’d have to heal his body first, and it won’t heal if there’s no living soul in it.”

            “Yes, of course. You’re always right, Rot.”

            A small laugh like a bird’s echoed throughout a hollow room filled with light.

            He slowly opened his eyes and blinked. His vision was fuzzy and disoriented, but he thought he saw bright hair and lively eyes. There was a golden crown on his head, lying lopsided without falling off. A man next to him had longer, black hair with eyes like a sunset.

            He heard to two let out a sigh of relief. “His eyes are blue again.” The dark haired one said.

            “Gray does not only mean death. Mother explained it to me,” The fiery one exclaimed. “Gray means rebirth. In order to have rebirth, one must have death. They come in pairs.”

            “Just like everything else in existence.” The darker hair one groaned. “It’s bad enough I can only stay up here for a few hours at a time. You should come down to the Underworld sometime, Rot.”

            “Yeah right. I’d get eaten alive.”

            “It’s a lot better than you think now, Rot. You’re pretty tough too; you’ll make it out just fine.”

            “Whatever.” The fiery one punched the black-haired man and he groaned.

            “Still healing, you idiot. You drilled holes through me.”

            “Actually, it was this idiot who really drilled a hole through himself.” Both of them focused on him.

            “Where am I?” He mumbled.

            “Shueva, you’re in the Overworld.” Rot grinned proudly. “Now under the official rule of King Rot! I wish you were conscious for our Coronation, but Schwarz and I decided we could only make changes when we were officially kings.”

            “Ugh… whatever… I’m tired.”

            “Trust me, we all are. But it’s over.”

            “What’s over?”

            “The War.”

            “What War?”

            “Don’t play this game with me.” Schwarz sighed as the two brothers argued.

            “I’m glad to see you’re okay, Shueva.”

            “I’m not okay! Why didn’t I die?”

            “Because… it wasn’t time.” Schwarz decided.

            “But I thought I had control over my fate!”

            “You idiot! Screw fate!” Rot shouted. “We agreed after you drilled a hole through you that we would end the war by using you as the official ‘sacrifice.’ So we signed the blood document there with your blood- sorry, Otouto- and ta-da, it was over and it was official. Those gods were pleased and we could drag you off to have you rescued before you really kicked the bucket.”

            “You could’ve revived me.”

            The two shook their heads. “We aren’t reviving anyone anymore. Enough with second chances. What you get is what you’ll stay with.” Rot glared accusingly at Schwarz. “We can’t have any more people only seeing things in black and white, and dying because of it.”

            Shueva’s glance switched between his older brother Rot and Schwarz, King of the Underworld. Blowing the hair out of his view, he felt a smirk creep upon his face. “What idiots.”