Confusion

Chapter 6

The other Agents returned to their world a few hours later. In between them, they had the other Prisoners bound and tied. The people greeted them with smiles, and they smiled back. It was great to see the people so at peace!

"Agents, did you hear?" one man asked. "Number 96 came back of his own accord!"

Agent 23 scoffed. "That Number? The one who's been making a ruckus in the Prison? I highly doubt that he would choose to come back on his own."

"No, he did," a woman added. "The guards say that he didn't put up a fight."

The Agents shared a glance; that didn't sound like him. Hell, on the day he was released to be executed, he lashed out against 12 and escaped to somewhere else! Somehow, him coming back and not putting up a fight seemed very odd.

"We'll look into that," 20 assured. "For now, we'll get these Prisoners back to their cells to wait for execution."

They then continued going, but this time it seemed rushed. They arrived at the Prison, sealed the Prisoners in, and promptly began looking for 96 and Agent 12.

"Guys?" Agent 9 squeaked. "The door to 96's cell is opened."

"What!?" 17 exclaimed. "He's out!?"

24 grimaced. "I knew it wasn't true. He guy wouldn't just come back."

"But if he isn't here, then where is he?"

"The Light Forces said that he was no longer in that world."

20 held up her hand, eyes closed. "He's here, but there seems to be two. 12 is also there, but it isn't looking good."

"Two? What does that mean?"

"It means that maybe someone is replicating that energy?"

Agent 23 drew his sword. "Whatever it means, we have to follow it and help 12. Let's go!"

The Agents took off and followed the energy trails, not stopping for a second.

~.~.~

"So I'm just supposed to sit here and do nothing!?" Yuma, who was now translucent like the rest of the inhabitants here, exclaimed in disbelief. Then, he crossed his arms. "Stupid Astral always thinking he can do things on his own..."

"I'm sure he had his reasons for leaving you out of this," Dark Mist sighed. "This is their place, they know where everything is, and I'm sure they're stronger here. Besides, I doubt you've got any power to go against that guy."

"I get that, but still. He wasn't like this when he first came to my world, and when we found out where Black Mist was, he started acting like he could handle everything on his own." Yuma leaned against the wall of their alley. "And when he got that black cut somehow, he wouldn't let me see it after a while."

"Do you know what it does?" Astral asked with wide, curious eyes. 

"No, I don't. He wouldn't tell me, and I don't think he knows himself. It's had a bad effect on his body, though. He hasn't been able to sleep or go into his trance for a while, which made him more impulsive and weak."

Astral and Dark Mist shared a worried glance. They didn't know about the trance, but it sounded like Agent 12 would have a hard time going against Black Mist like that. "He needs our help, then, but we also can't let them kill each other," Dark Mist mumbled. "But what can we do?"

"Don't you two have abilities for fighting?" Yuma asked. "I mean, you said you're from another world, but I'm assuming that your abilities are basically the same or something unless you never learned to fight?"

"I know how," Dark Mist said. "I think you know about the tentacles, but I also have overlay units, special abilities, and special attacks. Those can help me."

"I can physically fight," Astral chimed in. "But we cannot go and leave you."

Yuma grinned. "That's alright. I know I've been complaining for a while, but I get what Astral's doing. He's doing it for a good reason, so for now, I'll sit still and wait it out. Besides, I need to find a place to live if I'm staying here forever."

"Okay. We'll be right back. Be careful, Yuma," Astral said, taking Dark Mist's hand.

"You too!" He stumbled a bit, clearly still not used to the lack of gravity, and flew off.

~.~.~

Black Mist outran Astral and slid into an empty house to catch his breath. He chuckled and laughed softly in glee. For some reason, that chase was so much fun! His laughs came out with a slight gasp, so he had to force himself to stop before it became dangerous.

"You look like you had fun, 96," the familiar and oh-so welcomed voice of Edward sounded in the wall beside him as the owner of the voice slid through. His skin turned back to its normal color, and his smile moved his cigarette slightly in his mouth.

Black Mist smiled a smile that he hadn't smiled in forever and threw his arms around the surprised man. "You made it here!" he exclaimed, and then he grew angry and beat his chest with his fists. "How many times have I told you to stop that stupid habit!?"

Edward chuckled some. "Sorry, sorry. You'd be amazed at the amount of effort needed to break something like this. It also takes time, and I didn't have much time, what with all that was happening."

Suddenly, the Dark Number buried his face in his chest, trying to hold back sobs. "You're so stupid...!"

The Brit sighed and sat against the wall and hugged Black Mist. "Well, I'm here now, and as long as you don't get caught, then all will be good." He held him close and kissed his forehead.

Black Mist laughed, his voice trembling some. "You're acting like my dad, you know that?"

"You've been like a son to me."

They both suddenly heard something outside and felt the energy was a mix of the Light Forces' pure energy and corrupted matter. Both tensed up and remained silent, hoping that he would just go away, but they knew that was unlikely. Black Mist got up, and in less that a second, his expression darkened, and his tentacles rose out of the ground.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are!" a voice sang out in the open, followed by a rather loud giggle. A knock on the door startled them, and a laugh rang through the door.

"He doesn't feel the same," Black Mist whispered. A grin spread across his face. "It's working! My gift is working!"

Edward stood up cautiously. "I don't think this is going to end well. We should move. He may be here to finish you off."

"He can't kill me." Black Mist planted his hands on his hips.

"I still think we should lea-" Edward choked when a white tentacle stabbed him right in the throat.

Black Mist whirled around in shock. "Ed??" He gasped, pressing his hand to his mouth upon seeing the sight of Ed stabbed in the throat. Then, he remembered that it was difficult to kill anyone in this world, no matter who they were. Really, the only way to make sure someone was dead was to behead them, and since his head had yet to fall off, Edward could still be saved.

Black Mist quickly sliced and yanked the tendril, causing the owner of it to slam against the wall with a grunt. Edward gasped some as his skin regenerated itself, all the internal damage healing in the process. When that process was done, he coughed and gasped for breath in bewilderment.

"You okay?" Black Mist whispered.

"Yes, I'll be fine."

"Good, cuz Imma make him pa-" He was suddenly wrapped in black tendrils, and a foot kicked him at the small of his back, followed by a swift chop to his neck and head. He blacked out before he could see who they were.