Sakura :YGO!Zexal: :chapter 6:

Black Mist stared in the mirror, running his fingers through his own hair, analyzing the shiny and black highlights. He then held the band that covered his eye, removing it slowly.

There was his cursed eye. As black as coal, contrasting with the bright and golden iris of the other eye. It was an aberration.

Black Mist remembered his early life in the castle of his adoptive father. He remembered the nasty comments, the fingers that even the palace employees pointed in his direction, the gossips, prejudice, the fact that everyone believed that he and Astral were fruits of a spell that would bring disgrace to the kingdom.

Astral never defended himself, keeping silence, but Black Mist... He never gave up, trying to prove that he was as normal as anyone in that house, expecting to receive a more humane treatment, egalitarian, but in the end people were even more hostile.

For years the situation repeated, and although the man who had adopted the brothers tried to protect them from insults, it was evident the look of contempt on his face.

Nobody seemed to believe that they would be able to govern the lands of the current Shogun. No one could even understand why the leader adopted them. Perhaps it was pity for see two babies abandoned in the middle of a dirt road... That was something that Black Mist could never understand. In fact the boy was almost sure that all was an arrangement, a theater for all Japan assume that the Shogun was a good person.

Everyone, with the passage of time, began to treat Black Mist like a king. The monarch that he deserved to be, but always with a note of terror behind their actions, a fear so terrifying that started to bother the young man...

He was still a human being made of flesh and bones. His feelings, though cold, almost frozen, continued to exist... Behind that crust of indifference and intimidating attitude was a person who wished to receive affection. It would be asking too much...?

But Black Mist had never met someone who called his attention. His heart could not love... Until that day.

The red eyes, like rubies. A bloody red, vivid, brilliant, beautiful. The lightly tanned skin, flushed and dirty cheeks. Black Mist did not care about the old and grimy clothes that the boy was wearing.

His heart pounded faster, showing a burning desire that was engulfing almost all the young man's reason. And he felt an urge to join the crowd and get that little boy, hug him, love him as he had never loved before. But he was just a kid. A child. And Black Mist was forced to forget him, letting him live his own life.

Those years that have passed were the darkest for Black Mist.

He felt that every day a little more sanity was swallowed by a huge black hole, sucked into an unknown place, leading him to the madness.

Black Mist no longer cared about what others thought of him. He focused on just creating a kingdom so strong and powerful, with thousands of servants who could satisfy all his desires.

Until the day he met that boy once more. Tsukumo Yuma. And everything in his life changed again.

It was the perfect chance, the opportunity he has been waiting for almost his entire life. He could hold Yuma in his home, in his claws, never letting him go. Black Mist was sure that he could make the boy love him too, it would be only a matter of time.

But then an obstacle appeared.

That man and his wife had shown up one day in his territory, coming from somewhere, throwing to the winds blasphemies against his government.

Black Mist knew he had done heinous things with those who lived on his land, but he did not care, after all, they were just thirsty souls for money. However, when he told that the couple were secretly arrested and taken to his home, Black Mist realized.

That woman had the same eyes that Yuma. The man, the same hair.

Black Mist could still remember when he ordered that both had their heads cut off and their bodies thrown into the deepest waters of the turbulent river which divided the lands. He still remembered the feeling of power he felt when he saw the horrified faces of Yuma's parents.

A smile appeared on his face and he closed his eyes, enjoying the sweet taste of victory.
"Yuma will never know..."

"Know what?"

A cold voice answered. Astral was standing near the entrance of the room, arms folded, watching his brother.

"Astral, you scared me!"

Black Mist exclaimed as he rose from his chair, walking to the window.

He had forgotten that his beloved brother was staying at his home in a visit that could last many days.

96 had not opposed, even though his brother never stepped on the northern lands without a good purpose.

"Brother, what are you talking about?"

Astral knew the other guy was hiding a secret, and he had no intentions to leave the house without knowing what it was, despite having an idea about it.

"Astral... You don't need to pretend"- he turned to his brother -" I know you didn't come here to make a mere visit"- Astral could feel the drops of poison behind each word, but also could see a way to make Black Mist confess.

"... You're right"- he said carefully, analyzing every move of his brother -" Yuma. I want him"

Black Mist's heart skipped a beat.

His eyes widened and he could feel breathing difficulties.

Astral was there to steal the only person he had ever loved in his life.

"No..." - he took two steps back, startled - "You can't" - 96 felt as hate grew inside him, spreading through his bloodstream like a blazing salamander that burned his skin.
Astral was quiet, staring at his brother. He knew the reason for everything was Yuma.

"Black Mist, you cannot arrest him here forever... His parents will--"- 96 interrupted.
"What?! They are going to do what?"- Black Mist -" Oh, wait..."- he chuckled in an evil way -" They can't do anything because they are dead! I ordered them to be killed!"

Astral was startled. He expected overreactions of his brother, however he was not prepared to know that 96 had murdered two innocent people for no apparent reason.

"... You are crazy... "- Astral muttered, ready to retire from 96's room and go looking for Yuma, the boy could be at serious risk -" I will not let that Yuma--"

"!! No! Wait!"- Black Mist ran to his brother, kneeling before him, clutching the pale hands tightly, staring at him in a desperate way -" Please don't tell him anything! Please, I beg you!"- 96 looked around, as if searching for an exit -" Why don't we solve it through a conversation? As brothers, sitting around the table... A tea! What do you think? Let's drink tea and solve it! "

Astral could not believe in 96.

After all he had done was unlikely that he had repented... But then those eyes showed so much despair, fear... Astral just sighed, nodding.

"Thank you..." - Black Mist sighed.

~xxxx*xxxx~

Yuma stopped walking, crouching without making a noise, trying to see through the door that led to one room of 96's mansion, but could only see blurs.

A few days had passed since the arrival of Astral, the leader of the southern lands.
In the beginning was a great surprise to everyone, including the Tsukumo, and for a moment the boy stopped thinking about his parents to focus on the unexpected visit.

However, with each passing hour, the boy started to worry again.

He never had news of his parents. Black Mist always stated that the guards had not found anything, any clues to the whereabouts of Kazuma and Mirai.

Yuma's heart squeezed more each day and he believed that with the arrival of Astral some answers might arise. However, every time the blue-haired young man ignored him more discouraged the boy felt... But he didn't lose hope, never!

Yuma could hear when Astral and Black Mist sat around the table, prepared to drink tea and chat.

"I'm sorry for everything... Brother"- 96 murmured -"I'm willing to pay for my mistakes"- he continued with the conversation - "Why we don't make this environment less hostile...? Shall we drink?"

Yuma did not hear a word from Astral, but when the cups noises sounded, a gentle tap was heard. Someone was calling by Black Mist.

"I'm sorry sir, but it is urgent..." - a servant said, hoping the shogun accompany him out of the room. Yuma could hear 96 rising hastily and nervously saying something before retiring.

The boy took the time to half-open the door a little more, getting to see the table filled with sweets. He noticed when Astral swapped his cup of tea for 96's, returning to accommodate himself on the cushion where he sat.

"Sorry about the delay" - Black Mist announced when he entered the room, sitting - "As we were saying... I really regret what I did"

Astral faced his brother seriously.

"I do not think an apology will be enough"

"Of course not, I'll pay the losses that this kid had, for sure" - 96 smiled, showing his teeth - "I know how is to lose your own parents..."

Astral sipped his tea, watching Black Mist's expression of contentment.

"Tsukumo Yuma is a strong and brave boy, he deserves to know the truth, and I will be in charge to telling him" - 96 sipped his tea, hiding a smirk that insisted to appear on his lips.

The Astral's tea contained one of the worst poisons existent, causing death within minutes. His plan was complete: get rid of the plague of his brother and keep Yuma for the rest of his existence!

Astral, in turn, just closed his eyes, finishing drinking the hot liquid at the same time as 96.
"I agree with you..." - he rose slowly, approaching one door - "Why you do not tell now?" - And the young man opened it, revealing a surprised and disgusted Yuma.
The boy's red eyes shed silent tears.

His parents were dead, and Black Mist knew it... Yuma simply could not understand the situation.

96 suddenly rose. A knot had formed in his throat. Yuma... Yuma had heard everything, he knew everything! How...

"You bastard!" - He spat the words, staring Astral - "I'll--" - his lungs began to close, making the air passage more difficult - "What did you...?" - He followed his brother's eyes, seeing the empty cup of tea - "... No, you... The poison... "- Black Mist did not know what to do, his head was spinning, however, he noticed when Yuma ran towards the back garden. In a desperate impulse he followed the boy.

Using his latest vital forces, Black Mist reached the Tsukumo, holding the teen by the arms, involving him in a tight, frosty hug. His vision was blurred and his forces escaped by his fingers, but 96 was not going to lose the only person he had ever loved.

As his breath slowed the pace and the venom spread through his bloodstream, 96 stared at the teen's eyes, seeing fear, disappointment, anger, hurt... Slowly he touched the boy's silky lips, which contrasted with his own, so dry and lifeless.

"Isn't bitter?" - He smiled - "The taste of death" - Black Mist muttered, falling on his knees - "Tsukumo Yuma..." - his voice was no more than a whisper, and Yuma could feel as his arms became heavy - "I..." - the boy watched in horror as Black Mist lay down on the floor, closing his eyes slowly, finally surrendering to the delicate arms of death. His last drop of life had been sucked out as well as the last cherry blossom fell to the ground, marking the end of spring.

Black Mist was dead, and Yuma had no courage to let go of his embrace.