Estarossa takes Meliodas' sword and I hold my breath. I'm equally shocked and surprised that he was able to block Meliodas' attack so easily. An uneasy feeling creeps upon me when I look into his cold, emotionless eyes through the sphere. All of sudden, Meliodas stumbles backwards and lands on his back. Princess Elizabeth and I call his name in accord, forgetting the fact that he can't hear us for a moment.

"Hey Meliodas, the truth is, I'd rather die than do something like this" says Estarossa as he walks closer to his older brother.

Fine then. Do us the favor, I think as I grit my teeth and stare at him angrily.

Estarossa places his left foot on Meliodas' chest. "You understand, don't you?" He now shifts his weight onto his left leg and presses his foot some against Meliodas' chest. Meliodas moans in pain and spits out some blood. "It's because I love you" says Estarossa when he presses some harder. He leans down to Meliodas to have a better view at his suffering and grins slightly.

"That's not part of the plan, is it?" King stutters.

"In what kind of universe does this look like a plan to you?" Ban scolds angrily.

"For a moment there, I was nervous about what might happen. So well done, Estarossa" says Melascula.

Holy Sh... What happened to her? She looks so creppy! I think when I have a closer look at her.

"Gloxinia, your timing was perfect. Would you fix my body?" she asks the other Commandment.

"I suppose. But after this I shouldn't use Droplet of Life for a while" says Gloxinia and then he heals the female demon, making her look like before.

"Hey, Estarossa" Derieri steps in. "Bottom line, are you sure?"

I look at Derieri, startled. She hesitates. After all those years, she still hesitates.

"I've been sensing a strange gaze focused on us. It's very likely that it's Meliodas' party" says Monspeet.

"Shit... He knows about us!" I exclaim.

"The question is, can we afford to leave them alone?" Monspeet asks. Derieri nods and surprises me once again. If her friend knows we're watching them, why does she holds him back?

"The Seven Deadly Sins, huh? Meliodas' new comrades" says Estarossa and leans down to Meliodas, stopping only inches from his face. "When will you betray them? The same way you, the leader of the Ten Commandments, deserted the rest of us?"

All of his friends startle in shock and stare into the sphere in disbelief. I feel a few incredulous looks on me but can't concentrate on them right now.

Oh, Meliodas... I'm sorry that your friends have to find out like that...

"The strength and callousness you showed back then was devastating. Everyone recognized you as the one fit to become the next Demon King. Even we were helpless against the Goddess race but they feared you and tried to avoid you. You were my idol, as well" continues Estarossa his speech and then lifts up Meliodas by holding onto his neck. "But then, you unexpectedly betrayed us, wreaked havoc on the Demon Realm and vanished. After murdering the two Commandments who were with you, that is. Until Drole and Gloxinia joined us later on, you left two empty spots in the Ten Commandments. The balance maintained between the Demon race and the Goddess race was shattered and seeing it as their chance, the Goddess race incited the other races to eliminate the Demon race once and for all."

Meliodas gets chocked by Estarossa and tears run down my face as the memories of the past return. "It was you who started that war 3.000 years ago." Estarossa leans in closer to Meliodas again. "Tell me... How do you come up with such delightful ideas?"

"No way..." says Gilthunder in disbelief as the three Holy Knights stand together. Doubt and shock are written on his comrades' faces and the tension is clearly palpable when his friends don't know what to believe.

"So this time, it's the Seven Deadly Sins instead of the Ten Commandments, huh?" continues Estarossa. "Deep down, I bet you're full of anticipation, wondering when to betray them, right? You're a terrible person."

"So are you, Estarossa!" I shout angrily at the sphere, very well knowing that Estarossa can't hear me at all. But my anger and hatred are too great to take him even a second longer. Still, I cover my mouth, shocked by myself for talking like that in front of Meliodas' friends.

Estarossa throws Meliodas back on the ground, who just groans in pain. A pleased smile stands on Estarossas face.

"E...liza...beth..." Meliodas breathes out with his last bit of power and I hear the princess gasp in surprise.

"Estarossa, let me be the one to finish off Meliodas" says Melascula as she appears behind him.

"You? Why?" he asks without even turning around.

"His comrades really did a number on me" she says and I turn around in surprise, only to find Ban grinning. I hold up my hand and he high-fives me. "It's obvious that Meliodas should take responsibility for this mischief."

"Those guys eat souls!" says Escanor in fear.

"Then what will happen to Sir Meliodas?" asks Elizabeth worriedly.

"It won't happen" I nag and clench my hands into fists.

"Oh my, you're resisting" says Melascula as she's trying to steal his soul. "But I happen to be a specialist at manipulating the dead... their souls. Extracting your soul when you're immobilized is simple for me."

But before Melascula can continue her proposition, Estarossa breaks her neck.

Once again, Meliodas' friends gasp in shock. Even the other Commandments stand there in shock. Everyone but Zeldris. "She tried to devour my older brother's soul without my permission" explains Estarossa without being asked to. "She got what she deserved" he says and then stabs Meliodas.

"Hey, Merlin! Send me over there" I say sternly and completely emotionless as I turn around to face her. I look seriously at the magician, my hands still clenched into fists.

"Out of the question. You made a promise to the captain."

"The princess is safe. She is here. I kept my promise. Letting him die was not part of the deal. Now. Send. Me. Over. There" I hiss out.

"That would be suicide!" exclaims Gilthunder, stunned.

"You know the rules, Yami. How are you going to stick it out for so long?"

"I'll think of something. Now send me there!" I yell at her while Estarossa stabs heart after heart and time is running out. Merlin nods silently.

◊ ◊ ◊

I find myself right behind the Ten Commandments and watch Estarossa stab the fifth of Meliodas' hearts.

I take a deep breath to maintain my composure. Then, I move slowly and confidently to the midst of the Commandments.

"Hey Estarossa!" I exclaim loudly so that he lifts his gaze to me. I walk over to him with a cheeky grin on my lips and stop just a few inches in front of him. I tilt my head slightly and look him into his dark, cold eyes. My plan is completely stupid and risky, but it's all I can do. "Now, you've changed a lot, if not for the better" I chuckle. The demon looks at me through narrowed eyes before they widen in shock.

"You ... But how can that be?" he asks incredulously.

"What a warm greeting. You can't think of anything more after all these years? I was sure you've missed me" I have now placed myself directly above Meliodas and ousted Estarossa a few steps from my friend. I look past Estarossa and examine the other Commandments. "Trapped in a seal for 3.000 years doesn't seem to have done you any great harm. Well ... If your mind is disregarded. Or has it always been so confused?" I giggle and hear Estarossa snort angrily next to me. But I let my gaze wander over all members in peace. Until I look into Zeldris' eyes.

When our eyes meet, I suddenly feel a strong and diverting feeling. It is like a lightning that shoots through me and it drives the heat into my body. My body tingles and my heartbeat speeds up. Surprised, I look at him and I think I can see that his eyes widened, too, if barely noticeable.

I try not to show anything and turn my gaze back to Estarossa. I drop my hand slowly, right in front of his sword, and push it away. The blade cuts into my hand but I feel no pain, only the heat of the blood that seeps from my body.

"Yami, I can't bring you back like this" I hear Merlin tell me telepathically. "You have to get away from him."

I grin at Estarossa cheekily again as I push his sword further back. "You know, even if it is nice to see you again, I can't let that happen, you understand that, don't you?" I take a step back and lift Meliodas onto my shoulders.

"You moron ..." he mumbles. "What are you doing here?"

"Who are you calling a moron, you moron?" I whisper to him.

I feel the tension of the Commandments and hear their exasperated breathing. I know they are about to attack me. I let my eyes wander over all of them once again, except for Zeldris this time. I think I can't handle it to lock eyes with him once again.

"You always underestimated me, didn't you? Because my training took so long. But seems like you've forgotten how strong I've became" I grin and feel a sudden pang in my chest. Estarossa drilled his sword right through my chest, through my first heart. I spit my blood in his face.

"Well, why so unfriendly? Is that how you treat an old friend?" And even without lifting my gaze away from him, I feel this strange feeling between Zeldris again when he whispers: "Old friend?" but I have to ignore it. I reach into the blade of the sword and pull it out of my chest piece by piece.

"That makes 6" I say and feel the same stab again.

Once more I reach into the blade to pull it out. "Five. You've become slow" I wink. I feel my eyes turn dark and the dark power surrounds me like a protective shield. Because that is what my powers are: a shield and my weapon. I grip Meliodas' hand tightly in mine. "Just hang in there, okay?" I whisper over my shoulder to him. With Meliodas hanging over my shoulder, I jump up into the air and kick Estarossa in the chest. The strength of my kick makes him fly through the air, similar to what happened with Zeldris earlier. I raise my right hand into the air and shout "Night bird!", releaving a dark wave of power, formed like a swallow, that rushes at Estarossa, taking him straight into the next stone wall. I hear his comrades gasp in surprise but don't give them a second to think about it any further. "Full Moon!" I shout and the sky turns even darker than it already is, before relieving a light ball right above everyone of us. The Commandments look up at it in surprise and shock and I remember that they have never seen my actual powers. Before leaving, I look at Zeldris with sad eyes, already feeling sorry for what's coming now. I create a firewall around Meliodas and I, before bringing the light ball down to everyone else and hit them with a tremendously strong shock wave right before I feel Merlin take us back.

◊ ◊ ◊

I pleace Meliodas down in the middle of his friends that surround him worriedly immediately and see him smirk at me, whilst I pull away. "You moron" he repeats his words and I can't help to chuckle whilst tears of relief that he's save fill my eyes.

"You already said that."

Meliodas still smirks, then slowly moves his head and looks at Elizabeth with a smile. "Elizabeth..." he whispers her name and then passes out.

"Meliodas!" Elizabeth exclaims in fear as she rests his head on her legs.

I look up into her blue eye. "Don't worry, Lady Elizabeth. He'll be fine."

"L-lady Yami..." stutters King as he sees my wounded body.

I look down at all the blood, dropping out of my wounds. "Oh this... Merlin?" I ask the lady a final time and am very happy that we understand each other without much words.

"Already ahead of you" she says before teleporting us into the Boar Hat, right into Meliodas' room. We place him down in his bed and start to take care of our friend. I attach his cut arm to the cuff by putting a bandage around it. His demonic powers should bring them together very soon. I feel a hand placed on my shoulder and turn around to look into Dianes worried eyes, telling me to take care of myself, too. I nod at her and then turn back around to face Meliodas a final time. I move my hand through his blond hair, stroking him and trying to hide my sadness. I then get up from my seat and leave the room.

I'm in the bathroom, only in my underwear, when I perceive a movement near the door.

"What does your girlfriend say about you running after half-naked women?"I ask the man standing there.

"Elaine knows that she's the only one for me" says Ban and steps into the bathroom completely, not waiting for my permission. He begins to examine my wounded body and I watch it through the mirror before our eyes meet there.

"I know what's on your mind" I say.

"Then I ask you - why?"

I turn around and look Ban directly in the eyes. "Fox Sin Ban, I know you wanted to help the Captain today. I heard what you asked Elaine. But that today... that wasn't your job."

"But yours?"

"I know you are immortal. But my only goal was to save Meliodas" I say and turn back to the washing bucket when I perceive another presence.

"Privacy seems to be a foreign word" I sigh. "I'm still here in my underwear!"

Despite my objections, the second person walks inside as well but before I can complain another time, I recognize the serious look on Merlins face. I give Ban a serious look and he understands and leaves the room.

"What you did today was very risky" says Merlin as she goes to stand next to me. She grabs the linen cloth from the water, steps behind me and begins to clean the wounds on my back that were caused by Estarossas puncture.

"It was necessary" I say.

"And dumb."

"Merlin" I say and turn to the magician. "I know you would probably have let Meliodas die-"

"Do not say that!" Merlin hisses at me and for the first time I see serious concern in my friends eyes. I turn around again, not saying a word, and let Merlin keep cleaning my wounds. "The captain is relying on you" she says. "No matter what happens to him, he'll be back. If you die, it will be for good."

I also look at her through the mirror, just like I did with Ban, where our eyes meet. "It wasn't about whether he'll come back for me, but how he'll come back."

Merlin looks at me with sorrow in her eyes and nods slowly.