Chapter 10: Carry On

Yumoto sobbed into Atsushi's chest after he was prepared to go to bed, "I-I don't want to-to do this!"

Atsushi hushed him as he tried to calm him down, "Yumoto, it'll be okay..."

"I to-told you the t-twins were still evil!" He sobbed and Atsushi stroked his hair, "I know...I know..."

"I-I want An-chan!" He cried and Atsushi looked up at Kinshiro. "Kin-chan...can you please grab me his wombat toy from the shelf?"

"Of course At-chan." Kinshiro replied and grabbed the old pink plush from the shelf. He handed it to Atsushi and Atsushi smiled as he remembered a time just like this...

Atsushi was walking outside Yumoto's room and gasped as he heard the four-year-old prince crying. He slowly opened the door and Yumoto looked up. "Yumoto?" Atsushi asked softly and Yumoto rubbed at his eyes.

"I-I want A-a-An-chan..." He cried and Atsushi sighed, his brother was gone for the week and he figured Yumoto would act like this.

"I know you do...Oh, where's your wombat?" Atsushi asked and Yumoto sniffed, "Fl-floor..."

Atsushi picked it up and walked to him. He pulled the young prince into his lap and handed his plush to him, "Here you go..."

Yumoto sniffed as Atsushi hugged him and held him like that. Yumoto began to calm down as Atsushi hummed to him and rocked him gently while stroking his hair. Yumoto's crying quieted and Atsushi smiled as Yumoto slowly fell asleep.

Atsushi blushed as En came in smiling, "I was wondering why you weren't back yet..." En whispered and Atsushi smiled, "He was upset..." He whispered back. "Should we let him sleep in our room?"

"No, why don't you sleep with him tonight? We can take turns this week since Gora is gone..." En replied and Atsushi nodded. "Goodnight En-chan..."

En kissed Atsushi's cheek, "Night, Atsushi."

Yumoto smiled in his sleep as Atsushi laid him on his bed and Atsushi slowly laid next to him. "Goodnight...dear Prince Scarlet."

Atsushi smiled as he gave Yumoto his plush. "Yumo-chan, I have your toy."

"W-W-Wombat?"

"Yep, now you need to know that we'll find your brother, alright?" Atsushi spoke gently and Yumoto nodded.

His eyes closed as Atsushi held him close, "Don't worry... goodnight dear Scarlet..." He whispered as he stroked Yumoto's hair and the youngest slowly fell asleep. Atsushi put him down in bed and Kinshiro smiled, "You're good at that, At-chan."

"I know...I've had practice when he was young." Atsushi replied as they walked out of Yumoto's room and Kinshiro nodded, "Now...hopefully we can find Gora..."

The next morning, Yumoto sighed as he sat in his throne, it felt strange without Gora...

"Now remember, Yumoto, as the God of Lov-"

"NO! I told you Io-senpai! I'm just Prince Scarlet! NO MORE GOD OF LOVE!" Yumoto screamed and Io frowned, "Scarlet! You are the next God of Love! Don't you remember!? Who was the savior of the mortal world? YOU!"

"I don't care!" Yumoto yelled, "My brother is still the God of Love! I don't want to be it until I know he's safe!"

"Well you'll never find out..." A voice spoke from behind and Yumoto froze. "Get away from the heir!" Io yelled as he turned around to Yumoto.

"Now, now, Sulfur...if you keep yelling, I'll end him now!"

Yumoto looked up to see the VEPPer and growled, "Give me back my brother!"

"Now what have I said?"

"You took him!"

"Yes we did...but we're not giving him back!"

Yumoto growled and hid his hand behind his back as he made his love stick appear.

"Scarlet Love Lumiere!" He yelled as he jumped up and shot it out at the twins. Salty Sol growled, "Why you little brat!"

"Sure-Kill Meteor Attack!" The twins yelled and Io gasped, "Yumoto!" He jumped to push Yumoto out of the way and screamed as he was hit.

"Io-senpai!" Yumoto cried and Io struggled to stand. "I-I won't l-let you hurt him...!" He pointed his love stick at them, "S-Sulfur Love Gaia!"

The twins growled as they dodged the attack. "Scarlet, if you don't give your throne to us...then your guardians die..."

"W-what?"

"Goodbye Battle Lover Sulfur!"

"N-NO!" Yumoto screamed and Io gasped as Yumoto blocked their attack with his love stick. He growled and pointed it at the two. "Leave...before I have to find out where my brother is by force..."

Melty Luna smirked, "Haven't you been wondering where his bird partner is at...?"

"H-Hashibiro-sensei?!" Yumoto cried out and Melty Luna snapped his fingers.

Yumoto covered his mouth in horror as Hashibiro appeared in a cage, "T-that's horrible!"

Melty Luna looked at Salty Sol, "Let's get rid of dear Scarlet now."

Salty Sol nodded and Yumoto gasped as he began to float.

"Scarlet!" Io yelled and looked at the twins, "As one of the four guardians of Scarlet...I get him! Even if I give up my life!"

Salty Sol smirked, "Fine Sulfur..."

"Vesta Love Ignit!"

Yumoto gasped as the twins were hit and Yumoto cried out as he hit the ground.

"Sulfur! Get Yumoto out of here!" Ryuu yelled and Io shook his head, NO! We need Gora-san!"

"Maximum Gorar is at their castle!" Hashibiro yelled and Yumoto ran to him to try to open his cage. "Yumoto, no!" Hashibiro yelled and Yumoto cried out as he was flung back.

Ryuu growled and looked at the twins, "Leave...or the God of Love destroys you."

"We're not afraid of Scarlet." Salty Sol laughed, "But we're leaving because it's boring here."

Tears flooded Yumoto's eyes as they left, "GIVE ME MY BROTHER!" He screamed and Ryuu looked down. "Yumoto. Shut up, you idiot...what the hell were you thinking?! Trying to fight those two!"

Io growled, "Ryuu! They ambushed him...what was he supposed to do?! Sit there on his throne and look pretty so he could be killed!?"

Yumoto looked down in shame, "I-I-I'm sorry..." He scrambled to get back up and ran off to Ibushi.

"I-I-Ibu-chan-senpai!" Yumoto cried as he ran in and Ibushi turned to him, "Little One! Why are you crying?!"

"Th-The twins...a-attacked me...and Io-Senpai...! They took Hash-Hashibiro-sensei too!" Yumoto cried and Ibushi walked to him, "Little One...it is now your destiny to save your brother...if we do not, then I fear the worst."

Yumoto looked down as he began to remember when Gora was busy.

Seven-year-old Yumoto looked down as he realized Gora was busy in a meeting. He looked up as he felt a hand on his head. "Yumoto..." En's voice broke the silence and Yumoto gasped, "En-chan-senpai!"

"Why are you so sad?"

"W-Well An-chan is busy and can't play with me!"

En smiled, "Now Yumoto, your brother is very important and one day, you'll be just as important."

Yumoto gasped, "Really?"

"Yes, you will be."

"En-chan-senpai...can I play with you and Atsu-senpai?"

En nodded, "Of course..."

Yumoto looked up with tears in his eyes, "A-an-chan..." he whimpered...