When the Slates were destroyed and the panicked masses returned to their normal, human selves, the Clans thought that it was all over. What the Silver King Yashiro Isana, Adolf K. Wiessman, didn't anticipate was the survival of the Kings' Sanctums. With the Clans now drawing power from the individual instead of the Dresden Slates, there's a considerable shift in power that could upset the still fragile alliance between HOMRA, Septer 4, and HAKUMAI-TOU. Seeking to exploit this upset, enemies old and new arise... and there's one multi-color-using Blue Clansman in particular that's key to their success. Can the Kings and the Clansmen unite once again to rid Japan of its latest threat? And can Yata Misaki get through to Fushimi Saruhiko before it's too late?

-o-o-o-

Kusanagi Izumo remembered vividly when it had happened. Outside, the season had changed to winter. They'd all been in his bar, enjoying a loud but well-deserved night in celebration of Yata's recent offer to join a skate company. It'd been the first real step towards normalcy that HOMRA had had. Yata was beside himself with embarrassment, as well as excitement... although the blush on his cheeks might've had something to do with the many beers he'd drank. Kusanagi also might've had something to say to Yata about the scuffs he and the other members of HOMRA were putting on his nice wood floors, but... it had been a time of celebration.

"You can make it all the way to an international level if you have a sponsor, right?" Akagi asked.

Yata's grin spread from ear to and his whole body shook with excitement. "You bet yer ass I will! Probably in record time, too. I mean, I'm the best of the best, after all!"

The others laughed at his boasting and Kamamoto slapped a heavy hand on his friend's small but strong shoulder. "Especially after all the stunts you pulled with HOMRA all these years!"

"Just don't forget about us little people when you're world famous," Kusanagi added.

Yata grinned devilishly at the bartender. "Aw, don't tell me you're gettin' all soft on me in your old age!" he teased.

"Don't get the wrong idea; you'll be paying for all the repairs to my bar for the damage you've caused over the years."

The horrified look on Yata's face was enough to make them all laugh. Even Kushina Anna, who had been quietly observing her once-subjects, giggled at everyone's antics. Kamamoto slid in beside his distraught friend, all too happy to poke fun at him in his slightly inebriated state. "You sure you can hack it, Yata? Without rocket-powered kick-flips or flaming ollies?"

A chorus of "oooh"s filled the room as Yata stared incredulously at Kamamoto. "Oh yeah!?" he growled, jumping over the edge of the couch to head for his skateboard. He slapped it down on the floor, eliciting a wince from Kusanagi. "My moves are so good that they'll catch on fire all by themselves!"

"Yata, wait!" the barkeep shouted, but the fiery HOMRA Clansman was already kicking up the end of his skateboard.

What they didn't expect, was for a burst of magenta flames to propel the vanguard forward, straight into the remaining members of HOMRA and, subsequently, the side of the bar. Kusanagi was too stunned to yell. Everyone else was silent as well, wondering if they were all seriously intoxicated and just imagined that Yata Misaki had just propelled himself with their long-lost fire...

Yata was the first to speak. "No way..." He slowly crawled out of the pile of HOMRA Clansmen and stared down at his skateboard, which was still emitting the slightest bit of warmth. "No way..."

"Yata, did you just..." Kamamoto began, but even he couldn't form the words.

Slowly, the vanguard stood and walked over to his skateboard, then looked back at the others. "...I didn't imagine that, right?"

The shocked expression on Kusanagi's face slowly settled into a confused scowl as everyone stared at each other in mild shock. After the Dresden Slates had been destroyed, the Kings and their Clansman had felt their auras slowly dissipate. The transition time had been brief, just long enough for them all to escape the battle with JUNGLE more or less unscathed. But, then... their powers were gone. Or so they'd thought. Suddenly realizing what this might mean, Kusanagi turned his attention to the petite girl sitting on the far side of the bar. "Anna..."

This caught everyone's attention. Temporarily distracted from Yata and his skateboard, all eyes were on Anna as she stared back, eyes wide, silent... Unlike the Clansman, Anna's initial Strain abilities were unaffected by the Slates' destruction, though her status as the Red King was presumed gone. Until now.

"Anna...?" Yata whispered, his eyes growing twice as large. The rest of HOMRA stared with similar expressions as Anna, their once Red King, was slowly shrouded in an aura of red. She turned towards the others, awestruck...

Gasps of surprise erupted from HOMRA as that unmistakable red enveloped them one by one. After the initial moment of shock, Bandou walked forward and lifted his hand. Everyone held their breaths, until... In a flourish of heat, red flames curled around his fingers. Exclamations of shock and surprise followed, along with a blaze of fires. At this, Kusanagi finally snapped out of his shock to come to the rescue of his bar. "Hold on! Stop! You idiots are gonna burn the place down!" But his concerns were drowned out by flames and excited laughter.

Suddenly, Anna bolted from her stool and ran through the HOMRA Clansman and out the front door. "Anna!" Yata called, rushing out after her. Everyone else followed. They found her out in the middle of the street, staring up at the sky as snow fell down softly around them... She lifted her tiny arms upwards... and smiled. "Mikoto," she whispered. "I can see it... I can finally see it again..."

Everyone waited.

Without another word, the girl called upon her Sanctum and the sky erupted with a burst of red power. Forming just as it once did for all the Kings before and as it once had for Kushina Anna... was the Red Sword of Damocles.

-o-o-o-

"All I'm saying is that we've earned a break, don't you think?"

Once more, Domyouji Andy's words fell on deaf ears. It wasn't that anyone disagreed with him, it was just that they all knew how unlikely a well-earned vacation was going to happen. They'd expended so much energy on helping the Prime Minister rebuild their tattered society after the Slates Incident that it'd caused all of their other job duties to be neglected. Now that things were somewhat stabilized, they'd been forced to play catch-up.

"How about you just do your work instead of complaining about it and then we might actually get caught up," Fuse Daiki replied with a sigh. He ignored Domyouji's downtrodden expression, which prompted the exhausted young man to retort. However, Septer 4's Sanctum Alert cut him off.

The alarm rang. And rang. At first, no one moved. Fushimi Saruhiko was the first to react. "Someone get the Captain."

Akiyama Himori gave a curt nod before rushing off to Munakata Reisi's office. Only a split second after he departed, Awashima Seri came bursting into the bullpen. "What's going on!? Fushimi...!?"

The third in command was typing furiously on his computer as a variety of screens came to life and displayed a collection of data that Septer 4 never thought they'd lay eyes on again. "Something tripped the Sactum Alert," he said calmly. Around him, a storm of blue uniforms and confused voices raged as everyone rushed to their stations to analyze the data.

"Fushimi," came the Captain's voice. The rushing Blue Clansmen came to a halt as their captain entered the room. His expression was unreadable.

"Ah?" Fushimi replied, only half paying attention as his eyes flitted expertly over the incoming information.

"Is there any way for the Sanctum Alert System to be activated without the presence of a Sword of Damocles?" the Captain asked.

"No."

A sly smirk appeared on Munakata's face. "Then I suppose it's safe to assume that it wasn't just 'something' that tripped the alarm."

At this, everyone froze. Awashima stepped towards her superior with a bewildered expression. "Sir... Are you saying..."

The Captain glanced up at the screens for a moment. "Fushimi... Is it a Sanctum we recognize?"

Everyone waited in complete silence for the young man's response. A few clicks later, he turned towards the Captain with his usual grim expression and replied, "it's... the Red King's."

There was another eruption of shouts as the rest of Septer 4 made a mad dash for the outside. No doubt, the front staff were having a heart attack as everyone barreled out into the open with wild expressions on their faces, screaming about swords and Sanctums... Fushimi sighed and leaned back in his chair. Munakata walked up beside him and asked, "There's no mistake?"

"My program doesn't make mistakes," came Fushimi's reply. The Captain smirked.

"Then I best join the others... Miss Awashima!"

"Yes, sir!"

Munakata began walking towards the front of the building. "I don't suppose you're still in touch with our Red friends on the other side of the city?"

"Sir?"

Munakata pushed his glasses up his nose and looked away. "I'd like to know they're side of the story, if you'd be so kind..."

Awashima's eyes lit up in understanding. "Yes, sir. I'll let you know what I find out immediately." Without waiting a moment longer, she pulled out her PDA and dialed a familiar number. Fushimi watched her for a moment before turning back to the Captain.

"I guess that means I'm staying right here?" he asked in a single exhale. The Captain nodded.

"I'll call you if we're successful."

Fushimi nodded. Munakata didn't need to explain, not with the next course of action being so obvious. If the Red King's Sword of Damocles truly had returned, then Munakata, the Blue King, needed to see if his own had remained intact. And, if so, what kind of shape it was in. Undoubtedly, everyone was outside, staring up at the skies, trying to find that familiar sword in the sky... If Fushimi remembered anything about HOMRA, then all they needed to do was look in a certain direction...

"Thank you, Izumo... I'll be in touch."

Awashima ended her call and quickly dialed the Captain. Fushimi listened intently as he stared at the data, waiting for the telltale shift to indicate that the Blue King was active as well...

"Captain," she began, "I spoke with HOMRA... Turns out this... is all some sort of 'happy accident'. One moment, they were as normal as be, and the next, they were all producing auras and wielding their red flames. Kushina Anna immediately went outside to call upon her Sanctum and try to form her Sword of Damocles, of which she was successful... Yes, sir..." She paused a moment and looked over at Fushimi. "He's on standby... Right. You have the all-clear, sir..." She listened a moment longer, then hung up. "He's... going to try it..." Awashima said to Fushimi.

The pale man clicked his tongue. "You don't sound so sure about it," he observed. Awashima wrapped her arms around herself.

"His sword was so close to falling," she replied. Fushimi turned away. It was a legitimate concern, but with the suddenness of the situation and the importance of knowing whether or not the Blue King was still, indeed, a King at all... Especially with HOMRA potentially back in action... They needed to know their limits and potential and they needed to know fast.

"I have the data right in front of me, Miss Awashima," Fushimi said with a sigh. "If his Sword of Damocles looks like it's going to fall, I'll know immediately... and we'll be able to react before it's even fully formed. That gives us approximately 30 seconds to respond." He sighed again. "That's more than enough time."

Though his back was turned, Awashima couldn't help herself from smiling at her Clansman. "...thank you, Fushimi."

He only shrugged, but quickly became alert when the screens indicated another Sanctum activating. "Here we go," he murmured. Both he and Awashima watched the screens impatiently...

Without warning, Awashima was engulfed in a cool, blue aura. It startled her at first, but she immediately felt the familiarity of it, the connection with her Captain and her King... And nothing about the monitor's data suggested that Munakata's Sword of Damocles was ready to crash to the earth. She stared at her hands, at the beautiful blue that caressed her delicate fingers, and smiled. They were back... The Blue Clan and their King were back. "Captain," she whispered in relief. "Fushimi, we need to... Fushimi?!"

At some point during their waiting, Fushimi had stood, but his entire demeanor brought Awashima to instant alarm, though not for their King... Fushimi, the normally calm and collected young third in command of Septer 4... had a look of absolute agony etched on his face. His eyes were wide with it and his body trembled. Awashima called out to him repeatedly, but he didn't respond. His gaze was somewhere faraway as the blue aura that Awashima had just been relishing in slowly worked its way up the left side of his body. Then, after a few more flickers of blue light... came the red. Awashima stared in amazement as HOMRA's signature magenta curled around the right side of his body. Again, she called out to him, but there was no response. That's when the crackle of green electricity came.

When the third color made itself known, Fushimi collapsed to his hands and knees and violently coughed out a splatter of blood. Awashima could only watch in horror as the three colors, red, green, and blue, warred over Fushimi's body. She yelled his name repeatedly... but there was no intelligent response. The third in command could only let out a horrible, anguished cry of pain. "Fushimi!" Again, no response... Just a look of crippling agony as his breath came in short gasps and blood dripped from his lips.

"Miss Awashima! Fushimi!"

From nowhere, the Captain came into view. There was a moment of hesitation, an exchange of glances between Munakata and Fushimi... Another twirling of red, blue, and green... one more anguished cry and spitting of blood... "Cuh... Captain..." Fushimi forced out.

In a flash, Munakata pulled his sword, sheath and all, from his side and struck Fushimi. Almost immediately, the sparking and swirling around the younger man ceased. Silence followed. Fushimi lay unconscious on the floor.

"Captain," Awashima whispered.

"Get him to the infirmary immediately," Munakata ordered. As soon as the order was given, the other members of Septer 4 began filing into the room. At first, they were still jovial over receiving their powers once more. But, one look at an unconscious Fushimi and the serious expressions on the Captain's and Awashima's faces, and they knew that something dire had transpired. Awashima nodded and pulled out her PDA to call in for medical care. As the other members of the Blue Clan stepped forward, their King moved between them and their unconscious Clansman.

"What's going on?" Akiyama asked. "What happened!?"

Munakata glanced back at Fushimi before answering. "There's... been a complication..." He looked back to his Clansmen. "I need you all to get back to your stations. The time for celebration will have to wait. Right now, I need you to monitor the Wiessman levels of all of Tokyo. All of Japan, if possible... as far as our system can reach. I need to know right away if any other Sanctums are activated in our area. Fuse! Kamo!" The two Clansmen stood at attention. "Put together a search team to be on standby should anything unusual occur while I'm gone."

"Sir!" Fuse said, stepping forward. "Where are you going?"

The Blue King looked down at Fushimi, to whom Awashima was currently attending. His second in command looked up at him and shook her head: Fushimi was still unconscious. Munakata nodded and turned back to his men. "I will explain everything as soon as I can. Please, prepare the team."

"Yes, sir!"

At this point, the doors burst open and an infirmary team appeared. Munakata directed them to Fushimi, who they strapped to a gurney and hauled out in record time. Munakata ordered Awashima to leave with them, to report back on Fushimi's condition the second anything changed.

How had any of this come to pass? The more the Blue King thought about it, the less sense it made. The Slates had been destroyed. Their powers should've dissipated with them... So why were they manifesting now? And why did Fushimi display all three? No, not display... the poor boy had been overwhelmed... None of it made sense.

However, there was one person he could call that might know the answer.

After he was certain that every member of Septer 4 was working diligently, the Captain stepped out of the bullpen and opened his PDA. After a bit of scrolling, he found the contact group he was looking for... HAKUMAI-TOU. The name 'A. K. W.' donned the top of the list. There was no hesitation as Munakata dialed the Silver King.

"Adolf K. Wiessman... Something's happened…"