Seth carried Kato in his arms down the narrow hallway carved from Hell's earth. The soft red glowing lamps lighted the path he followed behind his sister Annie. Looking down at Kato who was limp and breathing hard, his face pale, he sighed. It worried him when he looked like that and he only hoped it got better with time.

Annie opened a door and stepped to the side. Her face had guilt written all over it. "I'm sorry little brother. About what happened. If I could undo it, I would." Now she sighed.

"It's alright." He smiled softly. "I know you were doing it because you had to." Stepping in, he looked around. It was a room that hadn't been used in a long time but it was always kept in order in case they had important guests. There was a large king-sized bed leaning against the far wall with dark, blood red sheets and throw pillows. The walls were carved thoughtfully and painted in the same color. A dresser and a table rested against the wall on one side and the wall opposite of it was covered completely in bookshelves that were empty.

"He can stay in here. I'm not sure if he'd like sleeping in his father's room." She cleared her throat and sat in the chair in front of the table. "If that was even true."

Seth chuckled and set Kato down under the covers where he turned onto his side. Sitting next to him, he brought him close. "I can prove it."

"Oh yeah?" She raised an eyebrow. "Then prove it."

"When he wakes up, tell him he looks like a girl," Seth smirked. "He gets annoyed and makes a face I think will convince you."

"Alright..." She muttered, eyeing him cautiously. "If you say so." Clearing her throat, she straightened. "Now, tell me, what's this about being lovers?"

"Oh, that." Grinning, he bent down and kissed Kato's forehead. "Yeah, it's true."

Her gaze softened. "I'm glad you can find someone to love. I honestly thought you were going to be a hard-head forever, not giving a damn about a soul in the world." She giggled. "But here you are cuddling with someone. I'm... very happy."

He rolled his eyes but couldn't help and smile. "It amazed me too. I honestly thought the kid his Majesty sent me to protect and advise was going to be stuck-up and evil to the core." He rolled his eyes. "He only gets mad when he's embarrassed or if someone is getting hurt, especially me. You should've seen him before I changed his life around..." His gaze fell back on Kato, sadness swelling in his chest. "He's broken. He may not seem that way to you, but I can see it. He'll have a bad dream or something will trigger him and he'll look away sadly. It's... hard."

"I can tell you love him." She whispered and he nodded.

"He's the greatest thing to ever happen to me. He's interesting and always full of surprises. He's always standing up to me. I never get my way." That made him laugh. "If he doesn't want me touching him, he'll make sure it happens."

"So you two have become one? Your destinies are now intertwined?" She asked, leaning forward.

Embarrassed, he shifted. "Y-yeah... Though don't bring that up with him or he'll pinch me, 'cause he'll know I told you. His pinch hurts."

Now it was her turn to laugh. "I see. So he's immune to your charm? Can you read his mind? I can't seem to get through and it was truly baffling."

"No, I can't. Everything he does is a surprise for me."

She smiled softly before remembering something. "Before... You said his Majesty sent you to protect him."

"Yes, he did. Right before he died." His eyelids lowered in sorrow. "I could tell how much Kato meant to him. My guess is that he'd been running away to see him, and Kato never knew about it. And I know why he couldn't fight the purification."

Sitting up, Annie raised her eyebrows. "That's news to me. But why?" She rubbed her arms. "Why now of all times could he not fight it?"

"He was already in the process dying." He muttered and she tilted her head in question. "Think, Annie. He became bound to the woman who is Kato's mother. But she died years ago." A gasp of sudden realization escaped her and he continued. "He was slowly weakening because he was so strong. He lasted years and it was finally his time to die. I believe that's why." He smiled. "Don't tell Kato though. I'm not sure what happened to his mother but I have a feeling he'll be upset and probably blame himself for both reasons."

"Alright. You have my word." And he knew she never broke her word.

***

Kato walked down an unfamiliar alleyway, light gray fog swirling at his feet and the sound of crows cawing at each other came from somewhere in front of him. He had an odd feeling in his chest. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't good either.

"Kato..." Someone whispered into his ear and he turned. But no one was there. The voice was deep and husky yet smooth. A taunting voice.

"Who's there?" He called into the darkness.

"Kato, my son." The fog swarmed in front of him, a wind blowing gently against his face. "I'm so sorry to have left you on your own." The fog turned different colors, eventually forming an image of a man. He had black hair that was cropped and smoothed over his head and his eyes were the deepest black he'd ever seen, yet it didn't make him look scary. He wore fancy black clothing and rings lined his fingers. He looked... familiar, almost. Something about him made him relax, only a bit.

"Who are you?" He asked quietly, taking a step back.

The man's gaze softened. "You know who I am. I am your father, the Demon King."

"My.... father?" He whispered, taking in his looks more closely before blinking and taking another step back. "Why should I believe you?"

"You don't have to." He sighed and looked up at the sky. "I'll have to return to my lover's side soon, but I have to tell you." He looked back down. "Please, my son. Live your life with the one you hold dear and protect the Underworld as if your life depended on it. The demons need you. You're the only one who can succeed in protecting them. You're needed. And I'm so sorry I can't be there to help you. I was planning on waiting until you were old enough, but you must take the throne and show them the path of good. Don't let their reputation drown them in evil. There's more to this world than death." He stepped forward and Kato stayed put while he wrapped his arms around his small body. His father was tall and muscular, something he could never hope to be. "I love you and your mother more than the universe. Live for us, Kato, and protect your world."

"But what's my world?" He whispered, his eyes glistening with tears. "I'm human and demon." He choked on his words slightly.

"And that makes you the only one who can unite the three worlds successfully." He leaned back and kissed his cheek. "You are an amazing child. Never forget that."

"Three...?" He whispered, looking over at him. His image began to fade and he looked into his eyes. "Wait! What do you mean? Please don't go!" He begged, wrapping his arms around his father, but they only passed through as he faded.

"I love you, my child." His voice sounded far away and he was suddenly gone.

Kato shot up, panting and blinking away the dream he had. What he saw confused him. He was somewhere unfamiliar. The walls were a strange blood-red color and he was lying in the biggest bed he'd ever seen.

"Good morning to you, too, Kato," Seth said, wrapping his arms around his waist and pulling him closer.

Kato blinked and looked up at him. "G-good morning..." He muttered. What an odd dream... He thought to himself.

"How are you feeling?" He reached up and brushed a hair from his face.

"I'm alright. Where are we?" He asked, looking over toward the door. "I don't recognize it."

"It's a room here in the Underworld." He said, kissing his forehead.

"Oh." He blinked, shifting so he was curled up against his side. The last day's events filled his mind. "Now I remember."

"Yeah. You totally got angry at me." A female voice filled the air and he stiffened immediately, turning to look on the other side of Seth. It was Seth's sister.

Kato held on to Seth's arm protectively, glowering at her. "You aren't going to hurt him again, are you?"

"Of course not." She smiled softly. "I would never hurt my little brother on purpose."

"Then why did you do it?" Like he was going to just believe that when she nearly took his arm off.

"Because a certain couple would kill us both if I didn't." She responded, sadness taking over her features.

So she did it because he would die otherwise? He didn't know if he believed that but he was willing to give the woman a chance. "Then promise me something."

He felt Seth's gaze on him and his sister raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"No matter what threat there is, don't do it again. It's not worth putting him through the pain. The same goes for you. Whoever this couple is that you speak of should know better than to kill you for something so trivial."

A laugh came from Seth and he looked up to see him grinning.

"Alright..." He turned back to the woman who smiled softly at him. "I promise. I won't ever hurt my little brother again."

Brightening, Kato nodded. "Great! Then now, even though I haven't necessarily forgiven you, I will give you a chance. So, let's become friends." He smiled.

"I wouldn't accept your forgiveness anyways." She chuckled. "But yes, let's do that."

"You're adorable," Seth muttered and Kato blinked up at him. He was smirking, something swarming in his eyes.

"By the way, Kato?" He turned and she shifted. "You kind of remind me of a girl."

His eyes widened before he puckered his lips and glared. "Yeah, I know." He muttered but was surprised to see her cover her mouth and begin to cry. Panicking, he got out of the covers and crawled over. "Oh no! Did I say something?"

She shook her head, wiping the tears away and laughing. "I just finally believe you're his child. It's truly a miracle to have something left to remind me of him."

"Oh." He leaned back and shifted nervously. "I see."

She stood quickly, startling him. "I have to go. Make sure to lock the door." He thought he saw her wink at Seth but ignored it.

"Oh, alright. Talk to you later then." He muttered and she nodded, picking up his hand.

"Seth, you'll regret it if you ever let him go. He's a keeper. Don't let me find out you've hurt his feelings otherwise I won't give you a chance to breathe with the work I'll give you." She said, her voice stern. Kato blushed and looked down, embarrassed.

"Yes, ma'am." He said, reaching over and pulling Kato to him, nuzzling his neck. "Mind locking the door for me though? Kinda got my hands full."

Rolling her eyes, she walked over to the door, opened it, said a few words that sounded like a chant and closed it again. "Um..." Kato started but before he could really say anything, he was tossed onto the bed and Seth over him.

"It's really hard to hold back when you protect me like that." He said, leaning down to whisper in his ear. "It makes me want to touch you, hold you, taste you, make you feel more pleasure than the world ever knew. I want every bit of skin and to make you scream my name."

The words sent a delightful shiver down his spine and Kato's face went aflame. "Wha-huh?" He stammered, his hands going up to Seth's chest.

He chuckled and hungrily kissed his neck, biting and sucking. He suddenly moaned, blushing and instantly covering his mouth. His legs moved slightly under his weight and he panted, biting his lower lip.

"Wai- Seth..." He rasped as Seth's hands went under his shirt and across his chest. "Somebody will hear..."

"Not with the incantation my sister put around the room." He whispered against his skin, making it tingle. "You don't have to worry about that right now." His beautiful eyes looked up at him mischievously, a smirk on his perfect lips. "I'm going to make sure all you can focus on is me."