Chapter Ten – The Boy's Fire (Yuu I)

Yuu kicked the bed, and not for the first time either.

It hurt his toes, but he was used to it. It was only a brief snag on his toes. It didn't feel as real as his broken nose right now. That just felt too close, too painful, too… something. He couldn't put it to words. All it made him think of was his sister's torn face and her bandaged neck, the way they had just left her there to run from Kiriha-san alone.

Which after cutting her like that would be hard… wouldn't it? Well, if she didn't make it out, she'd still be back at home.

Right?

She had to. There wouldn't be anyone at home if she wasn't there. He would be alone, completely alone and it would be his fault.

It'd be her fault for dying though, something in him tried to reason. That little angry voice was the one he'd avoided thinking about for so long. Now it was out so often-

(They were winners, they were conquering, if the enemies were weak it was their fault, it had to be-)

But you're pulling the trigger, reasoned that part of him, smirking all the while. And you're enjoying it more every single time.

Yuu raised his foot to kick the bed again. Before he could risk breaking the appendage, there was a knock at the door.

"Come in," Yuu called. Then he winced. His voice was nasally and awful and high but he was still the General of the Bagra Army. He wasn't going to be cowed by a broken nose like some bullied baby.

As he turned around, his eyes lit up and he hobbled over to the door. "Damemon, you're back!" He didn't hesitate to kneel down and hug the poop-shaped ninja. He was just a silly looking thing really, with silly attacks and a giant, guileless, carefree smile. But that didn't mean anything. Damemon was just like him. Underestimating him meant nothing but pain and defeat in that person's future.

Damemon hugged him back. "Didn't I say I would be Yuu-sama? It's no good of you to worry, no good at all!"

Yuu smiled and it hurt because of his nose. "You're right. I just couldn't help it. Nee-san left me… I…" You can't leave me too, you just can't! I won't let you! "I would miss you a lot." That was the mature thing to say of course but it wasn't what he wanted to say. And this was against what DarkKnightmon had said too.

But DarkKnightmon had been missing for a long time. For all Yuu knew, he could have been wrong, or worse a liar. And nobody liked a liar.

But that meant he would have been lying about other things too and that just wasn't possible. He was a Knight, a Knight on the path to redemption and a better world, to help his brother. That was what he had said.

"Well, Yuu-sama," chirped Damemon, breaking into his thoughts like a thief. "If that's your concern, maybe next time I will take you with!"

Yuu smiled wider. "That would be great!"

Damemon clapped his hands. "Wonderful! But until then, the boss wants to see you as soon as possible! Are you in good condition?" Damemon's large eyes looked pointedly at his nose and Yuu flushed.

"Yeah… I tried to make a preemptive strike to protect my sister." He grimaced. "It didn't work and now she's a hostage."

Not a traitor. A hostage.

They were using her because they had figured out he couldn't attack without hurting her. That was fine to most everybody else, even Bagramon to some degree. Not to him though ! That was still his sister! And he still cared. He could not see her in pain. Losing a life and respawning was different and he had hurt her. Getting an advantage wasn't worth that.

Damemon took his hand. "I see. Hrm. Well, you can make the report to Bagramon-sama and he'll know what to do, surely."

"But I should too," Yuu said, hearing his voice turn nasally with a whine. "I'm the general. I should know more!"

Damemon frowned a little." Don't be so hard on yourself, Yuu-sama," he said, beckoning Yuu out of his room. Yuu obediently followed, smiling a little at the pure sincerity in his friend -ally's, they couldn't be friends with a battlefield to deploy him on- voice. "You are still quite young and inexperienced. You have a lot to learn even now. That is also why you are here."

Yuu twitched, that bitter part of him wanting to protest, wanting to call out then why am I here? But he didn't because it wasn't fair, not to Damemon. Damemon had always been his friend since the day that they'd met. No matter what anyone had said, Grandma would have been hurt by him spurning someone's kindness.

Bagramon's throne room was chilly as always. The torches never provided enough warmth. The king did not rise from his throne, but then, as far as Yuu knew he barely left this room, to begin with.

Still, the usurper king smiled when he approached. "You look terrible, young General."

"I apologize for my appearance," Yuu said quickly, fists clenched. "And my insubordination."

The man - angel, he was really a fallen angel- waved his humanoid hand. "Fear not. I would do the same for my brother if I could. Your dedication is admirable. Fear not, we will save her."

The coil of suspicion in his stomach faded, warmth welling up in his chest instead. "Yes, you're right! Thank you!"

How silly. Of course, Bagramon would have thought about that. He was probably worried sick about DarkKnightmon too! Speaking of…

"Did the troops find DarkKnightmon?" His hands balled into fists, chewing on his lip. DarkKnightmon, like it or not, was his strongest soldier. Without him, with the Three Generals off conquering territory, he was incredibly limited in what he could do.

Bagramon leaned off of his hand. "Indeed they did. He's in a terrible state. The prototype Darkness Loaders cannot Xros him back to himself. Every time he speaks, it's in gibberish." He was no longer smiling. The frown set into his face was deep and taut. "He was found in the remnants of Sky Zone by the survivors. They'd been trying to tend to him, and failing that, finally brought up the courage to bring it to our attention."

Bagramon paused. "I'd like you to go investigate."

Yuu frowned curiously. "Me? Why?"

"No one has seen you until recently," replied the usurper king. "And news travels slowly from Zone to Zone. You should be safe with Doumon and Damemon at your side, no?"

Yuu swallowed and nodded. He made himself smile. "Yes, sir! I won't let you down!"

Finally, he could be useful.