Master couldn't locate White and his irritation grew. Things were falling apart, though he refused to accept that. He was so close to conquering Chess and getting his hands on Hotaru. He still had the rook as a wildcard.

He walked to the comm room and the junior tarots immediately snapped to attention. He waved his hand. "I don't have time for that. I need you to pick up White Angel's signature NOW."

The tarot that had helped track Vienna earlier searched again for White's signature and replied, "Twenty miles west of here."

"WHAT?" Master roared. He had not authorized any stone travel and he knew White would not have gone on her own. Something had to have happened to her. "Black..." he growled. "Find Black Angel's signature."

"She's in her room," the young man said after a moment's search.

Master narrowed his eyes. "Is she alone?"

The young man closed his eyes, accessing his searching senses. "No," he shook his head.

"Who's in there?"

"Some foreign signatures. They're not on record."

"I see," Master said, his demeanor growing strangely calm. A thousand thoughts raced through his mind, the first and foremost one, crushing Black and enjoying every moment of it. "Tell me this...can you check signature histories."

"Only from the past twenty minutes or so. After that, they're too faint. They fade pretty quickly unless they're attached to an object."

"Do a search for Black's history. I want to know exactly who she's been with the past twenty minutes then. Longer, if you're able."

The junior tarot nodded and closed his eyes once more. History searches always took much more concentration, but it still didn't take him long to find the signatures. "Temperance, Devil, Justice, Tower, White Angel, and several unrecorded signatures."

"What about the Rebel?"

"I don't have his signature on file," the young man said.

Master pulled out the dagger he had used to slice Fahd's arm in casting the bonding spell. "This should have it."

The man took the dagger and after a minute, nodded. "That's one of the unrecorded ones."

"I see," Master said. He felt the walls closing in as some of those he had trusted most, he now realized were conspiring against him. What they didn't know, however, was that he now did. He turned to the other junior tarot sitting next to the searcher. "I want you to send out a silent message to everyone in the castle except for White Angel, Black Angel, Temperance, Devil, Tower, and Justice. If they are spotted by anyone, I want them stunned and brought to me for dealing. They are traitors to Numbers and are conspiring to turn us all over to Chess." The young man's eyes widened in fright at the thought. "They wish to bring harm on us all and must be stopped."

"Yes, Master!" the young man said and immediately sought to isolate the signatures Master had instructed, and send a mental message to all other recorded signatures in the castle.

"For now, I do have one in my custody already and I think he'll be the first punished." He thought of the Rebel, trapped within a 2 foot square in his rooms. He would soon feel what being thrust outside the boundaries of a bonding spell felt like...

"You know, I love the fact that I built these computers and hence know how to track and hack them."

Black's eyebrow raised in surprised to see Tsu standing in the doorway. "Well by now I'm pretty sure the Master has figured out our little plan. I mean after all, Nano did invent the aura tracking system. All he had to do was track yours and he would know that you're here," Tsu explained.

Black surpressed the urge to groan. Always one step ahead. "Fine, then we'll split up. Tsu will come with me, and you three will stay together. Kill anyone you meet. We can't have the Master figuring out who is exactly here. Especially you Hotaru. We need to corner him, remove any outside help he might get."

She took them to another room. "Hmmm mines," said Tsu. "Interesting choice."

"You have two doorways," Black explained.

"Even better one."

--------

"Lovely," said Seika. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw West appear on the battlefield.

"Riku tell the others, West is a traitor to Chess, she must be stopped. I will engage her in battle, but should I fail, you know what to do," Seika instructed.

Riku stared at her, the fact that West was a traitor still trying to sink in his mind. Finally he nodded. Seika took off, headed straight for West. "Seldeen Eci, Ice Needles."

Solarr and Russell had been waiting for Master to appear, but he hadn't shown up. When a junior tarot wondered in, apparently lost, they didn't think anything of it and didn't have time react before the tarot pulled out a stunner and all went black for the two men.

When they came to, they found themselves with their hands secured tightly behind their backs and they were sitting across from Solarr's nephew, who was similarly bound.

Master stood before them, his arms folded across his chest. "I am fully aware of your treachery. What I don't understand is why. I've given you two everything. Power. Position. Leadership."

Russell spat. "You're the Master of treachery. We merely follow example. You sent me to Justice for judgment! You would have had me live the rest of my days, rotting in an underground prison! And you went back on your word that Vienna Tetrault would be safe. And because of what you did to her, I swear you shall not see tomorrow!"

"Condemning words, Tower," Master said, silencing the man as he turned back toward Solarr. "What say you?"

"My life goal is to see that justice is served," the older man replied. "Nothing more, nothing less. You can interpret that as you will."

Master narrowed his eyes. "You will tell me what the others are up to." But Solarr kept silent. "Very well then! You have condemned yourself as well." He turned away from the two men and the whirled back around and roared, "I AM THE MASTER HERE!"

"Then why is your kingdom crumbling?" Fahd spoke up, a wry grin on his face despite the danger they were all in. It was a fatal mistake. Master lunged at him and grabbing his sleeves, threw him across the room, well outside the boundary that had been set with the binding spell. Fahd let out an inhuman cry as the pain coursed through his body.

----

West ducked just in time as Seika's spell raced over her head. "Ah Seika," she said, turning in the woman's direction. "One of the ones I've been strictly ordered to take down. I never liked you anyway." The castle barrier would have to wait, though she knew that would be the more devastating blow to Chess, unleashing Master's blood curse over the entire land. She was confident enough, however, that she believed it would be no large feat to rid the world of Seika first.

She spotted the woman's white hair and with a flick of her wrist, brought her pulse scepter down, unleashing a devastating shockwave headed straight for her enemy.

Seika blocked the attack with a wall of snow. Snowflakes flew to the air as shockwave collided with it. They flicked and changed into tiny razor sharp needles that rained down West. West knocked them aside, only one getting through to nick her on the cheek. She wiped away the blood as Seika landed on the ground a few feet away from her.

"Miss you too West," Seika growled.

West flicked her wrist once more, sending out multiple shockwaves towards Seika. Seika leap up, dodging the first two, before being knocked backwards by the third one. She growled in anger, her hands making the sweeping motion. Blades of ice flew towards West.

West destroyed half of them with another shockwave, before dodging the rest. A twisted smile appeared on her face. She would enjoy this.

---------------

Death, Hotaru decided, was just merely a fact of life. She glanced around the room. Between the three of them, they wiped out another 100 minor Tarots. Black had told them to just avoid the Master and kill anyone and that her and Tsu would take care of the technical end, which included destroying all the files and blowing up this place.

She worried for a moment, wondering what would happen. She hoped Kai and rest of her friends were alright.

"Master, enough!" Solarr exclaimed. Fahd's cries were unbearable. "Leave him be!"

"Give me one good reason why I should," Master said.

"Because I'll tell you what you want to hear," Solarr said. Russell's jaw dropped at Solarr's switching sides, but the older man shot him a look as if saying, Just trust me and don't say a word...

Master seemed to ponder this for a moment, but then dragged Fahd back to the 2 foot square area he was bound to. Instantly, the Rebel's pain vanished and he just sat there, wide-eyed and breathing heavily. Master turned to Solarr.

"You'll tell me now."

"Yes," Solarr said. "Thank you," he glanced at his nephew, relieved that he was safe. "The others...their goal is to procure a portal stone...It would open a doorway which would allow Chess soldiers to infiltrate the castle and topple it."

"What?" Master's voice was deadly. "How come I know nothing about this stone?"

"It's experimental. In the lab. White knows about it and they've taken her to find out its exact whereabouts."

"How do I know you're not lying?"

"I would do anything to save my sister's son. Even if it means going against what I believe is right," Solarr answered, keeping his words vague.

Master reeled back. White had knowledge of something that could prove to be the final blow to Chess and she had kept it from him? How could she betray him like that? Black, he understood. But not White...she had always been loyal. He couldn't think straight upon hearing this news. All he knew was he had to get to that lab and find that stone before the others did. And White? He'd deal with her later...

He left the room, slamming the door behind him.

"Portal stone?" Russell asked. "What were you talking about?"

Solarr shrugged. "A good imagination can buy a man time. I meant what I said. I'd do anything for Cera's son. I abhor lies, but sometimes the situation calls for it. I promised I'd tell him what he wanted to hear. He wanted to hear a treacherous plan. I gave him one."

"So the portal stone?"

"There's no such thing. We have to get loose of these bonds so we can send the others a message, letting them know what we told Master so they can set up a trap for him." Solarr spotted a blue stone lying on a table nearby. He struggled against the bonds, but the held tight. He cursed softly. "No use!"

Suddenly, the blue stone levitated off the table and sailed gently through the air, landing in one of the older man's palms. He looked up in surprise and saw a weak smile on Fahd's face. "And you tried to tell me learning to use multiple forms of a magic would only bring destruction..." his nephew said.

"Hopefully, I was right," Solarr grinned. "Master's destruction." He rubbed the stone, activating it.

It was foolish for West to think that handling Seika would be an easy task. After all the Snow Princess was a stubborn force to be deal with. Needless to say, what felt like an eternity of fighting was only a mere 15 minutes of battle. It was also foolish for West to think that she could drop her guard and focus only on Seika.

Where there is help needed, help is given.

West laughed as she destroy another one of Seika's ice attacks with her shockwave. She would enjoy destroying Seika and once the Knight was gone, the rest would be easy to pick off.

Seika growled. That laughter was starting to get on her nerves. She threw another attack at West.

"You think such petty attacks can defeat me?" West taunted. She lept back to dodge the attack. As soon as she landed a few feet away, a dreadful feeling overcame her. She didn't have time to think about it as a powerful force threw 50 feet away and into the castle wall. West fell, unconscious and badly hurt from the attack.

Seika stared in amazement. There was an underline magic spell that was hidden in her attack. She didn't put it there though. "Looked like you could have used a hand."

Seika stabbed a Number soldier who attempted to sneek up on her, before addressing the voice. "Kai... where the hell have you been?"

Kai smiled at her. "Oh here and there. I went and reinforced Hotaru's sealing spell. So even if they break through hers, mines will be another layer to deal with."

Seika rolled her eyes. "Fashionally late show off," she muttered.

"I hear that!"

The battle was not going in Numbers' favor. The casualties were building up moreso on their side than on Chess. Master's supposedly flawless plans were destroying his nation, as he had recruited virtually every young man and woman between the ages of 16 and 35 to be a tarot soldier. They made up over 65% of Numbers' population.

"Queen Hotaru!"

Hotaru looked down and pulled out her comm stone when she heard Russell's voice. "Russell?" She heard two men whooping for joy. "What's going on? Where are you?"

A deeper voice responded. It belonged to Solarr. "We're in Master's tactical room. We were taken unawares and now are prisoners in here. He tried to hurt my nephew and I made a deal with him that I'd give him information in exchange for Fahd's safety."

Hotaru frowned. "What information did you give him?" She still didn't fully trust the Tarot known as Justice, if for no other reason, because he had Russell at his side and Russell was the reason Vienna was in the bind she was in, not to mention the deadly blood curse, bound in the castle back home.

"I told him about the mythical--"

"--try nonexistent--" Russell broke in with a snicker.

"--portal stone. Told him it was being created in the labs and could open up a portal to bring thousands of Chess soldiers here to the castle. I even cast doubt on the one person he still thought he could trust."

"White?" Hotaru asked, her lips curling up in a smile.

"Exactly. Think you can catch him in a trap? Don't worry about us here. As long as he's taken by you guys, we'll be fine. Just come get us when it's all over."

A softer voice, one that was apparently further away from the two men, spoke up. It was Fahd. "Yes, my arm's starting to feel cramped from these bonds!"

Hotaru laughed. "We'll definitely come to get you and yes, I think we can use this to our advantage."

"He seemed flustered," Solarr continued. "I've never seen him look the way he did."

"I'm sorry I missed it," Hotaru said with a smile as she deactivated the comm stone. She turned to Ita and Dunn and smiled. Tossing the stone to Dunn, she said, "Fill the others in on what's going on. Ita, it's time for the final showdown."

"Think we should wait for Black?" Ita raised an eyebrow.

"She'd kill me if I didn't," Hotaru nodded and waited as Dunn quickly sent a message to their comrades.

Tsu placed the last bomb in place. "There. We've rigged the entire headquarters with bombs. A virus is about to start destroying all the data the computers have. We're destroyed all the machines and medicine here as well. Anything else?"

"No I don't think so," said Black.

The communcation stone went off. Black touched to see Hotaru's face appear. "We're about to set a trap for the Master. Think you can make here?"

Black smiled. "Wouldn't miss it for the world."

---------------------

"They're retreating."

"Thank you for stating the obvious Arashi," Seika said dryly.

The Storm King glared at her. "Do we go after them?"

Kai pointed to the battlefield. Thousands of bodies, friends and foe covered the field. "I think enough bloodshed has been spilled today. Beside, we have West to deal with and the whole mess with Vienna and Master's blood."

Seika wiped down her blades. "Hopefully Hotaru and Black are taking care of that."

-----------------

Asho grid his teeth. White was still resisting, but it wasn't as hard as before. He could see small glimpes of lost memorie. It was harder though, because White was younger when the Master wiped her memories. Black was older and had more so it was harder. Not to mention Black was as stubborn as a mule.

"Who gave the orders to retreat??" Master demanded when the junior tarot had informed him of the progress of the siege on Chess.

"I-I don't know, sir, but it's a losing battle."

"I. DON'T. LOSE!" Master said through gritted teeth. He balled his hand in a fist as rage overtook him. He stormed down the hall toward the lab where the portal stone was, pushing everyone out of his way. This was his last hope. Without it, he was indeed finished.

He stepped into the lab and the doors slid shut behind him. The lab was eerily quiet, though brightly lit. There were four adjoining rooms off the main one and Master had no idea where to start looking for the stone, so he poked through some of the visible experiments.

"Looking for something?" A feminine voice asked.

"Black," he commented as the woman stepped into the main lab room, from the room to the right. He unsheathed his dagger and held it to his arm. Black held up her hand, clicking her tongue and wagging her finger at him.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

"You're powerful," Master said. "But not as powerful as me. You never have been. You never will be." He pressed dagger to his skin, drawing a thin line on the surface, ready to use his blood magic on the little traitor. "You think you're so clever, but you've lost."

"Has she?" another voice sounded as Hotaru stepped into the room from the room on the left. "From what I've heard, there's only one loser standing in this room...and it's not a woman."

"Well," he raised an eyebrow. "Isn't this interesting!" he looked at the woman he desired as his prize. He would enjoy breaking her while forcing the entire Kingdom of Chess to watch. "Is there anyone else hiding back there I should know about?"

Hotaru and Black looked at each other with knowing smiles on their faces.

"Hmmmm maybe," Hotaru said mysteriously. A small fire spell flew out of the shadows and hit the Master on the arm. "Or maybe not~"

A shadow spell from Black swept him off his feet. The Master growled. They were toying him. He was not to be toyed with! His eyes narrowed. Black's next words though sent waves of shock.

"Uncle Dante, isn't it time you gave you gave up?"

Dante hissed. "You remember? Impossible. I had Nano wiped both yours and White's memories."

Black gave him a cold stare. "Of course I know. Did you really think I would forget what happened. That cold night when you murdered your sister and her husband... my parents. You took my sister and I under your wing, alterating our very being. You took away her memories, replaced her with someone else. You wrapped both of our personalities to point where we don't recognize each other anymore. All for the sister who you never love you more then a brother."

Hotaru was startled. Dante... no one had known the Master's name much less the reason why he started Tarots. Black's uncle was the one resposible for all this pain and suffering. It must have been such a heavy burden on Black.

Dante hissed, his blood magic activiting from his anger. He leapt at Black. "You'll pay for those words Black!"

"And you," he looked at Hotaru. "I'm still holding something of yours hostage. Or had you forgotten? You kill me and you sentence your friend to death. My blood runs through her veins and the moment you cut off the source, her heart will cease to beat. Can you carry that on your conscience the rest of your life?"

Hotaru hesitated a moment. She knew that in the grand scheme of things, Vienna would have to be sacrificed. Master could not continue his tyranny. She wondered if there was some sort of solution, however. Would it be possible to put him in neverending stasis?

"Hotaru!" Black's voice was sharp. "Don't be an idiot. You know what we have to do. There's no other way."

Crouching hidden in the next room, Dunn's eyes widened at Master's words. He pulled out the comm stone and contacted Vienna. The signal was weak due to the reinforced barrier around the castle, but he was able to reach her. "Vie?" he whispered.

----

Vienna was laying down on her bed with her eyes closed, though she wasn't sleeping. The castle was so quiet and the blue glow from the outside barrier was mind-numbing. She was out of her mind with worry for the others, but didn't dare contact them for fear that she'd mess up any plans of theirs or break their concentration when they needed it most. So when Dunn's voice echoed softly, she sat up and fumbled with the stone.

"Dunn? Hello? What's happening? Are you safe? Is 'Taru there? Is she safe? Have you guys caught Master yet? What are the casualties like? Did--"

"Vie! Stop and listen," Dunn said, his voice an urgent whisper. "I just thought you should know. Master's saying that if he dies, you do too because of the blood curse."

Vienna's felt a sinking feeling in her chest. "Wh-what?" she whispered.

"He said his blood is in your veins. Vie, I'm sorry. It sounds like Hotaru's hesitating a little."

"NO! She musn't!" Vienna cried. "They have to do what ever they need. I'm not important."

"You're one of her oldest friends. It can't be easy for her."

Vienna felt a tear course down her cheek. "Tell her I love her then. When it's all over. I know what she'll decide. It's what she has to do."

Dunn didn't speak for a moment, but then he said, "Russell's here too. He's fighting on our side." Vienna didn't respond. "He feels responsible. I know if he could speak to you right now, he would tell you that."

"You'd better go," Vienna said, brushing past Dunn's last statement. "Help Hotaru do whatever needs to be done. And be safe." She deactivated the stone and laid back down, closing her eyes once more.

Serafina ran though the field of flowers. "Come Tam!" she called after her older sister. Tam, age ten, smiled warmly at her.

"I'm coming Serafina, I'm coming," she shouted, running after her little sister.

In the distance the face of a smiling mother and father stood in front of a blue house. Laughter rang and the sky was bright.

Asho wiped off the beads of sweat from his forehead. Success. One memory was found. It was the last one before the Master came. Tam had the same one. White whimpered softly.

"Sorry Serafina," he muttered. "But this is for your own good."

---------------

"Mathis. Mathis."

Mathis moaned. Someone was calling his name. He didn't want to get up. "Five more minutes," he muttered.

"Mathis get up now or I will encase you in a block of ice."

Mathis sat up at the threat. "Seika?" he asked groggily. Seika replied by slapping him across the face.

The pain woke up him up even faster. "What was that for?!" he shouted holding his cheek.

"For letting Chi get hurt."

"But I'm hurt too you know!"

"Doesn't matter you're older."

"You two stop it," said Kai. Riku was nudging his sister awake.

Mathis frowned. "What happened? and West!"

Seika slapped him again before he could get all worked up. "Already taken care of while you were sleeping."

"Will you stop slapping me?!"

Mathis gazed down at the woman Seika actually had encased in a block of ice. She was still wearing the white mask and he was glad. It was easier to see her as The Empress rather than West...the girl he used to sit outside with, laugh with, fall in love with...

"West..."

"Oh, stop pining!" Seika exclaimed. "She was worse than Russell! I don't know what it is about our truthseeing position. It seems no one can stay honest in it! Come on," she pulled Mathis by the arm and helped him walk. She was really wishing Hotaru had had time to heal the guy earlier, but for now, she'd help him to the safe house - a new, nearby meeting place for the team seeing as they couldn't use the castle.

"I loved her once," the young messenger said, but Seika shook her head in disagreement.

"You only thought you did. The person you knew wasn't really her. It was all an act."

Mathis thought back to some tender moments shared and stubbornly didn't want to believe it. When they arrived at the safe house, he collapsed on a bed. "It would have been really handy if you had had a transport stone," he commented.

Seika shrugged. "I left in a hurry! What can you do? I didn't see you pulling one out of your pocket either."

Kai spoke up as Chi ran from room to room, checking everything out. Riku followed her. "I agree with him this time. I'm dying to join the others." All he could think about was Hotaru.

"You and me both!" Seika said.

"Asho!" Chi shouted happily, temporary distracting the soulreader from his task as the small girl tackled him.

Mathis made a motion to remark something cruel when Seika slapped him again. "If you got nothing to say, don't say it all," she growled at him.

"Why are you here?" Seika asked, turning her attention to Asho.

Asho wiped his forehead. "Trying to White's memories back. But the fact that she remembers completely nothing to begin with and she's resisting doesn't really help you know?" He gestured towards White was still unconscious thanks to Black and Hotaru's spells.

"Yeah but how did you get here?" asked Kai.

"Hotaru."

"Ah. How are they holding up?" asked Seika.

Asho took a deep breath. "Honestly? I don't really know. They sent me back here kinda early. All I know is Justice and Tower are now helping us.... if you want to believe the irony of that."

"Russell... is helping?" Seika asked flatly.

'Hey I don't believe it either, but he really wants to apologize to Vienna. And I'm a soulreader remember? Which means I know he's telling the truth. Do I trust him? No of course not! But does he really hate the Master want to say sorry to Vienna? He really does. Turns out he really loved her you know? Kinda twisted if you asked me considering it's his fault that she's in the current situation she's in," Asho rambled.

"Asho," Seika interrupted. "We got the point. Where are they now?"

"Like I said, no idea."

Hotaru's hesitation was all the Master needed to shoot a blood spell her way. It happened suddenly, a red vapor cloud appeared all around her, causing her to fall to her knees, coughing. At the sound of Hotaru's distress, Dunn leapt up from where he sat, hidden, and ran out into the main room before Ita could grab his arm to keep him from doing so.

Without even turning toward the young messenger, Master sent a cloud of the same particles to Dunn, rendering him useless as he began to cough too. Whatever was in the vapor cloud, made his eyes water, so he shut them and blindly tried to scramble out of the way. Master laughed at the sight.

"You chose the wrong side, Black. Look at him," he pointed to Dunn. "He's no man!"

"He's more man than you will ever be because he actually cared enough to rush to someone's aid," Black said, her voice surprisingly calm. "You just messed up," she pointed to Hotaru, who was trying to wave the blood cloud away. "Taking down the one person who might have tried to keep you alive for her friend's sake." She shrugged. "I could care less whether the rook lives or dies. She means nothing to me."

"You couldn't kill me if you tried, Tam," Master taunted, his voice taking on a sort of wild quality. "You won't try. We're too connected, you and I. We're the same."

"Perhaps you're right," Black said and saw Master smile in triumph. His smile faded at her next words, however. "And you have no qualms about killing family. Well neither do I."

Not another word was said as Black vanished into the shadows. The master wrapped himself around a layer of blood, to protect himself against Black's bullets.

"You won't win Black," he taunted. "You won't win."

"We'll see -uncle-" Black replied, her voice echoing in the room.

---------

"What do you mean you don't know?" Seika questioned.

"I don't know maybe," Asho tiredly shot back. He was exhausted, and only retrieved one memories. There were more to go and Seika was not helping. "I got sent here by Hotaru. All I know is that they're at HQ, but I don't have a clue to -where- inside they are. And do you have any idea how big HQ is? It's huge. It's like the same size as your castle or bigger."

"Asho you're rambling. Maybe you should take a break?" Kai suggested.

Asho shook his head. "Can't. If I wait too long, the memory will get locked up back again by White. I need to keep going. If I fail... then Tam is gonna kill her and I don't want to see her kill her own sister. So please, a little quiet so I can concentrate? And any last questions before I go back to doing what I'm supposed to be doing?"

"Yeah... do you have a transport stone on you?" asked Seika.

Asho threw her his stone sack. "If it aint in there, I don't."

"Triumph!" Seika exclaimed when she pulled out the blue stone from the bag. "You coming with me?" she asked Kai.

Kai gave her a look that seemed to say, do you even need to ask? He took Seika's hand and moments later, they were whisked away to Numbers. When they came to, they found themselves in a side corridor which was empty of tarots.

Kai lowered his voice. "Do you know your way around?"

Seika shook her head. "The only thing I know is where Master's tactical room is. Black told me in case I'd ever need to know for whatever reason."

"Sounds like a good place for a showdown," the man said. "Lead the way."

Kai and Seika snuck through the halls, only getting lost twice, before Seika was able to maneuver to the tactical room. They both prepared to attack, but when they pushed the door open, they didn't find Master and Black or Hotaru, but rather Solarr, Fahd, and Russell tied up, yet in good spirits.

Russell grinned. "I never thought I'd be so happy to see you guys! Loose us!"

Seika hesitated. "Why should I believe you're truly on our side?"

"Because I'm telling you I am," he replied.

"You've told us many things in the past that turned out to be false."

"Not everything was false. Please Seika...you don't know what it's like to know that I brought harm upon someone I care about and then be stuck here with my hands tied, unable to right my wrongs!"

Seika didn't answer, but Kai nudged her. "You remember what Asho said. And the more strength we have on our side, the better."

Seika sighed. "I suppose, but Russell, I swear. You make the slightest misstep and you'll have to face me." She waved her hands and a sharp ice sliver levitated toward each man, dipping behind their backs and cutting their bonds.

Solarr leapt to his feet, as did Russell, but Fahd stayed where he was.

Kai looked at him with curiosity. "Are you coming?"

Fahd shook his head. "Can't. I'm afraid I'm stuck here. Go. Most likely they're in the central lab. At least, that's where we tried to lead him."

Seika and Kai nodded and ran to the door, with Russell and Solarr on their heels. Fahd called out as they were running out the door, "Be careful, Uncle...friends."

The Moon. That was the name Black had given her gun. Much like the title she represented there was much mystery to her weapon. While everyone knew it was a gun and thus fired bullets, no one knew the full extend of what she could do with it.

Perhaps insanity as well as genuis runs in the family, for like the Master, Black was always thinking one, two, three steps ahead of an enemy. By the time her opponent had made one move, she was already planning her next possible steps, with back up plans and other various little calculations. In fact one plan was already set.

Her next step merely involved her weapon. As it was said earlier, no one knew the full of extend of what she could do with it. The Master was about to find out.

Cloaked in her shadows, Black moved around. Her hands moved quickly, changing parts of her weapon. A silencer and a different sets of bullets. She fired them rapidly, one bullet after another.

"Ice bullets, Black?" her uncle taunted her. "What would those do?"

She didn't reply. The water would melt, mixing in with the blood. If she overpowered the ratio he wouldn't be able to control it anymore, being more water then blood. Also the water made it easier two more reasons. The first being Tsu who'll use it to cast reflections, create illusions and overall give her a power up for her magic. The second being should Seika decide to show, well ice magic did work much better when there was more water present.

Back in Chess's castle, Vienna sat up with a start. She hugged her arms to her chest and began to shiver as she felt a wave of cold fall over her. She pulled down her blankets on her bed and buried herself deeply within them, trying to get warm.

With every shot Black fired at Master, his cursed blood was converting to water and diluting within the rook's body. Only a few more and he would have no more hold over her...

---

Black shot at him again and he laughed. "Your bullets are ineffective against me, Black. They melt as soon as they touch my skin. But by all means, keep on! Waste your gun's power." He spread his arms wide and taunted her. She shot him again and again and again. The bullets penetrated his body, his blood, and he just laughed. He had no idea just what he was allowing to happen.

She finally stopped and put down her gun. Her smile was deadly. "Perhaps they are ineffective. Or perhaps not. I wonder what would happen should water dilute the blood..."

"WHAT?" Master lurched forward, his face growing white. He had been cocky and had not even stopped to think that there was more to Black's action than what was on the surface.

Black looked at Hotaru, who was now breathing clean air, as the blood cloud had dissipated. "Go call your rook." She looked back at Master. "She should be free of Master's curse by now."

The door to the lab opened and in walked Seika, Kai, Solarr, and Russell. Dunn and Ita stood on the other side.

"Where are your allies, Master? Looks like mine are here. And more on the way, most likely," Black said, triumphantly.

Asho nearly collapsed to his knees. He had collected nearly two years worth of memories. It was more then enough for White to start second guessing herself, as judging by the restless and troubled look on her face.

"Asho alright?" Chi asked quietly. The ones who had remain behind were watching Asho carefully. Arashi and Mathis still didn't trust the soulreader, but both Chi and Riku had taken a shine to him.

Asho wiped his forehead and nodded. He gave Chi a tired smile. "Yeah. Almost there. About two-three more years of memories left to recover assuming White can remember things from when she was four. " He seriously hoped that White would remember, and regret what she's done. It seemed a bit unfair to force the burden of guilt on her, but White had never shown any remose like Black had after killing someone. Still learning to deal with those burdens and being able to live again as a normal person... Asho was sure that burden would be nothing compared to actually being dead.

His determination lit again, and he got back up. He would finish this job by the time Black and the other returned.

-------------------

Seika didn't give it a second thought. The red water on the floor harden turning into a slippery ice. Shards flew into the air, piercing the Master's skin. He hissed and then began to chuckle which turned into an insane laughter. "You're just releasing more of my blood." He glupped down the blood tablets.

"Which won't matter," said Hotaru. "Evaw Ladit, Tidal Wave." A huge wave of crashed down on the Master, the blood being washed away from his control.

The Master cursed to himself. This could not be happening. It was then, that he saw White appear in front of him. "White," he said with surprised.

White didn't say anything, she just stood there, staring at the Master. "You... bastard," she shouted. Her light magic threw the Master across the room.

Black smirked to herself. The third step had just started. Now all that was needed was the fourth step to happen.

"Get over here now, Vie! You're going to miss all the fun!" Hotaru clutched the comm stone. How good it was to be light-hearted once again with one of her oldest friends.

"Are you sure? Hotaru, what if you're mistaken?"

"Trust me. I wouldn't tell you to come if I wasn't 100% sure."

Vienna clutched her own comm stone and felt a wave of joy rising in her chest. "So I'm going to be ok?"

"You're going to be sorry you weren't here to see this!" Hotaru laughed. "Have you locked on these coordinates yet?"

"I have! I'll be there right away!"

Hotaru smiled at the giggle that came from the stone before she pocketed it again and indeed, it was mere seconds before Vienna materialized a few feet away from her. She was filled with joy at being reunited with her friends and for being able to witness the downfall of the man who had been such a terror, who had dangled her life in his hands. Well, no more!

Her smile faded when she saw Russell standing across the room. His eyes bored into hers and he mouthed something to her, but she looked away, not wanting to have anything to do with him. He started making his way toward her around the edge of the room, keeping one eye on the Master as he walked.

Master looked up from where he had landed against the wall and spotted Vienna. Everything was crumbling and the girl emphasized his failing plans. In a bit of rage, he took the dagger he carried with him at all times, but instead of drawing his own blood to cast a spell, he hurtled it straight at her. He knew it would never make it to Seika or Hotaru or the others since they could still use their magic and were alert. The rook, however, still had the suppressing serum in her body and looked completely distracted.

THUNK!

Vienna cried out, her eyes wide with surprise as Russell fell down at her feet. He had anticipated the move the very moment Master laid his eyes on her and jumped in front of her just in time. "Vie, I'm sorry...for it all..." he said.

The Master didn't have time to gloat about his victory. At least one of the traitors had been taken down. He tried to get up only to find his body wouldn't move.

"Hmmm was wondering when they would kick in."

The cheerful reunion stopped at Black's voice. "Black," the Master snarled. "What did you do?"

Black smirked. "Oh not much. I blew up the lab after all. The blood tablets I left behind were left for a purpose. They're actually poison. The amount of blood tablets you've taken since then... it's enough to kill an entire population of people."

The Master glanced at White who was still standing there. "WHITE! Don't just stand there!"

White didn't move. "You took them away... my parents...." she whispered. The Master stared at her.

"Impossible... you shouldn't be able to remember that."

"YOU TOOK THEM AWAY!" Another wave of light magic blew him across the room.

Black appeared behind him. The Moon pointed to the back of his head. For once in his life, Dante knew fear. "Checkmate Uncle. You lose."

The single shot rang through the room.

Vienna heard the cheer that rang throughout the lab, but it sounded distant. All she could focus on was the red-haired, bearded man whose head she was cradling in her lap. "You're an idiot!" she told him.

"I am an idiot," he agreed.

"Jumping out there like that. Russell, you've lost so much blood!" She began to seethe. "That was a stupid, stupid thing to do!"

He shook his head and closed his eyes. "Actually, I think that was the smartest thing I've done all year. The rest, yes, was all stupid. And the worst thing is, I can't ever take any of it back. You almost died."

"And you still might!" Vienna said, her eyes filling with tears. "'Taru!" she looked up at her friend. "Help him? Please?"

Hotaru knelt beside him and laid her hands on the wound. She saw that Vienna cared for him just as much as he cared for her and it warmed her heart that perhaps her friend had truly found what she had always said she envied her and Seika for. "You don't even need to ask," she smiled. "Russell, thank you. I don't doubt your sincerity one bit."

The others were standing around, a few of them looking a bit perplexed. Solarr suddenly snapped his fingers. "Fahd!" He dashed out of the room to fetch his nephew, who was no longer caught in the binding spell.

Seika glanced at White. "How are you here?" She was pretty darn sure that Asho was still trying to get White's memories back.

"I'm not."

Tsu stepped forward. White's features melting away. "The master never knew I had the same magic abilities as White. Fooling him into thinking I was her was easy. Black's plan really."

"To make him think that he was truly alone and defeated. I say it was an excellent plan," Ita commented.

"I think it's scary how far ahead she's planned this. She already knew this was going to happen? If she placed the poison in the tablets," Dunn said.

Tsu chuckled. "I supposed I should tell you, Black is a master at Chess. She's use to thinking far far ahead. Even if the poison didn't work, I'm sure she had over a hundred different little plans thought up."

"Where is Black?" Seika interrupted.

Everyone in the room looked around. Black Angel was nowhere to be found.

"Hmmm I wouldn't worry too much," said Tsu cheerfully. "I think I know where she went and don't worry it isn't a place where she plans to kill herself if that's what some of you are thinking."

"Where she go then?" Ita questioned.

Tsu grinned. "Knowing her? I say to the first person that really understood her. Now!" She clapped her hands. "I do think we have to get out of here now. There's a government to organize, a castle to clean, countries to be set, and a headquarters to blow up, if you get my drift."

----------------------

Asho stood outside the safe house, feeling very very tired. He was weary and worn out, having stretched himself farther then ever before.

So he was surprised to see Black show up and just lean her head against his shoulder. "Tam?" he asked hesitantly.

'Quiet' she instructed through the mental bond he had accidently formed with her. 'Just let me rest here for now.'

Asho smiled, seeing what had happened, what she was feeling, through the bond. 'Take all the time you need.'

Mathis was pacing again, though he did so with a limp. For hours, he had been trying to reestablish the mental connection he had severed with his brother, but it was no use. There was nothing there. When Black had appeared, he hoped for some word, some news, but she wasn't speaking. And he was a little too afraid of her to ask.

Mat? You there?

Mathis pulled the comm stone out of his pocket and spoke into it. "Dunn! I'm here!"

You dummy, I'm not using a stone!

Mathis looked down and realized the stone was indeed off. A wave of hope surged through him. You mean...

Yep! Turns out, it was on my side all this time. You had reestablished the connection, but I didn't know how to.

So how did you figure it out?

Why don't I show you instead of tell you? Someone wants to say hello anyhow.

Mathis frowned in confusion. What could his brother be talking about? He didn't have to wonder very long when the two men appeared behind him. "Dunn!" he exclaimed, happy that his brother was safe. "What happened-- Fahd?" He looked at the Rebel, the leader of the Brotherhood Organization, the man who had captured him, yet not for personal gain, but rather in order to teach.

"Hello, my brother!" Fahd smiled broadly.

"Hey, that's what I should be saying," Dunn laughed. "I asked him why we couldn't speak anymore and he told me a few things to try and what do you know?"

"I just wanted to apologize if my methods were unconventional," Fahd said. "Unfortunately, with the way Numbers was, we had to always lay low and be on the run. We needed loyalty and at times, the only way to get it was to force it. I never meant you any malice, despite how my words may have sounded."

"No need to apologize," Mathis smiled and stuck out his hand for Fahd to shake.

Dunn began to pace much like his brother did, but his pacing was not one of nerves, but rather excitement. "I can't wait to get back. We're going to be setting up a governing council in Numbers and opening trade between the two kingdoms. There are a couple of people vying for the top position and we need to start discussions to figure out who will fill it."

Mathis looked from Dunn back to Fahd. "I...ah...I kind of don't want to go back."

"What?" Dunn demanded. "What are you talking about?"

"My whole life, I've been a mere messenger. Nothing more. But I have the opportunity to be something more and to open my mind up and learn things I never thought possible."

"The Brotherhood is finished," Fahd shook his head. "Master had them all wiped out." He paused. "But that doesn't mean a new one can't emerge. No more living outside the law, though."

"Mat, don't be stupid," Dunn said. "What more could you ask for? Look at where we live, the people we're surrounded by, the things we have. What more do you want?"

"A chance to feel useful. Worth something."

The two brothers stared at each other, their faces mirror images. "So you're really going?" the blue haired twin asked, a disappointed expression on his face. Mathis nodded. Dunn let out a sigh and said, "Well it's good I can communicate with you anytime again then, isn't it?"

"It's good to have you back in there," Mathis pointed to his head with a grin and then embraced his brother, something he had never done before.