--Twelve: The Phoenix and His Light

            Baekhyun heard the plan thus he give up at his eyelids and he drifted into sleep soon.

***

            He opened his eyes, only to find that same dark-endless room. Baekhyun hate that room, he really is, but he should come here so he could stop this freaking dream, and save Chanyeol at the same time. He folded his healed hands to warm him a bit. He did not like the cold breeze inside his dream.

            That is made him feel lonely.

“You come back”

            He heard that deep-husky voice so he turned his back. Even though he adores every single thing on that body, he could not help to hate the pair of red eyes that pierced his heart like a sword. Chanyeol is not Phoneix, and Phoenix is not Chanyeol. He amused that Jongdae’s words still rang on his mind in his dream. Thus he gulped and straightened his position, looked directly at the sitting Phoenix.

            At his arrival, Phoenix looked up. Just like Baekhyun mentioned before, his red eyes pierced him like a sword. By now, Baekhyun started to feel to hate red color. Those eyes are staring at him and he is drawn to that, but Baekhyun could not put the right word to his uneasy feeling.

“I don’t plan, actually” Baekhyun mumbled the word

            He looked confidence minutes before, but now, looking at intimidating man in front of him made him felt so small. Baekhyun immediately looked down, take a step back and cursed himself for being a coward. The man, by now is Phoenix, chuckled a bit at Baekhyun’s reaction. And Baekhyun let another cursed out of being flustered by the laughing voice.

            Phoenix also shares the same Chanyeol’s voice and that is so addicting.

“Why afraid so much, I won’t hurt you”

“I-I know” he answered truthfully

            Jongdae has explained to him and he did understand a little bit by now. That is the same reason why he agreed to visit the phoenix again. This is the mission to save Chanyeol and the others.

“Then, why?” Phoenix found it amusing when he looked at confidence Baekhyun back

“I- I have a plan actually. But, I need you to cooperate” Baekhyun gulped, bite his lips as he tried to feel a little bit confident

            Upon the statement, Phoenix let out a chuckle. He secured both of his hands on each other, and leaned one of his leg to the wall, smirked a little. He raised his eyebrows when looked at, once again, a shy Baekhyun. Only Baekhyun and God know how y the scene is.

“I don’t like to bargain, but let’s hear the plan first” he said with a little chuckled and that y smirked

            -and there is again, a confidence Baekhyun tried to explain the plan.

***

“Are you sure he is okay? Look, he is glowing!” Kyungsoo is panicked but Jongdae shook his head

            He did not know actually. He wishes he is. They did not have any choice either. Someone should put this to the end, and he gladly to accept the challenge. But, if the plan did not go well, he-

“I trust you Chen, everything is going to be well” as if Minseok could hear Jongdae’s thought, the latter give his assured smiled before returned to the others

“Thank you hyung” Jongdae mumbled, blush a little and added immediately “We need to get out of here soon. Kyungsoo, could you do that?”

            Kyungsoo nodded. He asked the other to step back and he put his hand on the lowest ceiling, closed his eyes and started to concern. With a loud thump, the ceiling collapsed. Luhan immediately pulled Kyungsoo closer with his power. Kyungsoo gasped, breathing heavily before looked up at Jongdae who smiled widely.

            There are dusting everywhere, and a loud thump, before the ground collapsed and they could see another light besides Baekhyun’s body.

“Now, everything is gonna be okay. Let’s get out of here first” he suggested

***

“Did you hear that?” Lay widened his eyes

“-an explosion?” Kris is as shock as Lay, thus they sprinted to the said explosion

            The explosion is not far from them that came from the field they usually used to train their powers. They both are running fast as they hope nothing is bad happening. Thus, when they found a big hole on the supposed to be floor, they were terrified.

“Where are we? Do we really back to the Academy?” Kris heard a familiar voice

            He did not hear it for too long, he did not even sure.

“This is the main-purpose field, right?”

“We are doomed. The head janitor will hate us for sure”

“Could you please help Jongin, Baekhyun and Chanyeol here, Lu?”

“Alright, but Kyungsoo would take the blame”

“Me?! But this is not my idea!”

 “I did not explode the field, I am only telekinetic”

“-blame Jongdae! This is his idea!”

“Eh, why?”

“Guys, please be focus-. Oh, wait- Yixing?!”

            Minseok looked up, only to find Yixing and supposed to be future Kris are running to them. Nobody surprised at their arrival, but the other side is surely surprised upon their arrival. Both of them looked awful with bloods decorated on their sleeve. Just that Minseok looked at his surroundings, he frowned deeply.

“Oh, thank God, finally we meet you. Yixing, please hel-” Luhan pointed at unconscious Jongin, paled Chanyeol and glowing Baekhyun

            Even before Luhan could finish his sentence, Yixing has already kneeled down to check up on them. He put his hand on Jongin’s forehead. The worst, he thought.

“W-what is happened with the Academy?” Minseok asked

“What do you mean? Kyungsoo just exploded it” Luhan answered immediately

“Hyung, please stop blaming me. This is his idea!” Kyungsoo said and pointed at Jongdae who flinched a bit

“-but I am trying to save you here!” he protested

“Did they always out of topic like this?” the newcomer Tao asked Sehun who grinned playfully

“We always are actually”

            Tao rolled his eyes then looked at the two men who just came to rescue them. They supposed to be their side, right? He looked at the tallest man who grinned at him thus he shrank a bit. He did not know but he started to feel awkward with that man.

“N-no. I mean the Academy, what is happened with the Academy?”

            Just that, they realized what is just happened with the Academy. All of them widened their eyes in shock, just like Suho did back then. Yixing did not talk that much because he concentrated fully at Jongin’s injuries. Thus, the future Kris took the chance to explain. The fact that they are just left the Academy before the Red Forces attacked it is a bit amusing.

“But- are you two supposed to be spou-“ Luhan pointed at both of future Kris and Tao’s direction but got interrupted when the future Kris slapped his lips hard

            Sehun chuckled, but when Luhan glared at him, he hid himself behind Minseok.

“Spou-?” Tao raised his eyebrows, waited the other to continue but it never happened because Kris did not release his hand yet

“Shut up, please?” Kris whispered to the other

“Why? You show up in front of Sehun and Jongin, but you asked me to shut up in front of your spo-“ Luhan got another slapped by Kris

“They are different, okay? Shut up. Chanyeol, help me!” he immediately kick the paled man who startled at the calling

Chanyeol sighed, he loves his brother but at time like this when his brother actually forgot that Chanyeol is sick he-, “He is my brother. Name is Kris. He is the former student of Special Class along with the other. Yixing is his best friend, he is the healer” he explained behind his heavy breathings

Kris furrowed his eyebrows “Chanyeol, are you okay? What is happened to you?”

“Guess those five years did not change your brain as well” Luhan mumbled and took Kris’s hand off “He is sick. Let that boy explained when Yixing healed him” he added and pointed to Jongdae when Kris nodded immediately

***

            When Kris caught up the information, Yixing has already healed Jongin. He told Kyungsoo that Jongin needed some times before he get used to the power. Kyungsoo nodded, embraced the other tightly, now he felt more secured when Yixing healed him. Then, Yixing move to pale Chanyeol and glowing Baekhyun. He frowned at the scene while walking to Chanyeol.

“He is what?” he could hear Kris asked so he eavesdropped a little

“According to the Prophecy-“

            -and that prophecy again. Yixing sighed, looked at grinning Chanyeol.

“How many times I healed you. I started to get bored, Chanyeol, seriously” he said sternly thus only make Chanyeol grinned wider

“I know it hyung, you are the best!” Chanyeol said, earning a glared from Yixing when he continued to heal the other

            As Chanyeol gained his power back, he looked at tired Yixing.

“You could stop here, hyung. You looked tired” Chanyeol worried at the other when Yixing gave him his assuring smile

“That is okay. This is my job actually, don’t ask me to stop”

            That only made Chanyeol more worried to the other.

            Kris made a face. He really did not like the idea. Thus he looked at the sleeping Baekhyun.

“Is he alright?” he finally asked

            This is the first time he saw him up close after so many years before the tragedy on his time. Now he looked at how determine Baekhyun to help the others, he could not help not to feel guilty on him. He used to think the other is a threat for those five years.

“You could not touch him yet, Chanyeol. Don’t try to” Jongdae warned him and Kris snapped on his train of thoughts

***

“You wanted me to what?”

           The Phoenix raised his eyebrows, a little bit amused by the other’s idea. He did not mean to scare the other, but at his deep voice, Baekhyun could not help to feel more intimidated. The Phoenix sighed, put his hand on his face and growled, but it just sounded like moaned for Baekhyun and-

            Baekhyun blinked rapidly. Why does he even picture the scene?

            Oh, right. Because the Chanyeol here is an effin’ y god and he almost lost control of himself, like- Thanks life for giving the Phoenix in his dream only and the innocent one that look angelic in his real life. He did not want to lose his control over something so gorgeous like him, right? Well, he will, but this is surely not the right time.

            When Chanyeol is an innocent brat who lives like an innocent angel loving his brother so much and acted like a gentleman with manners, Phoenix is looked exactly like him but screamed iness in his every single movement even when he did not try to because of his evil and dominance aura.

“You wanted me to stay in Chanyeol instead?”

            The Phoenix replied and Baekhyun could not be more redden than that. Imagine that y creature combine with that cutie pie. Baekhyun immediately nodded and bit his lips hard for preventing any other unwanted words.

“You know that almost impossible, right?”

            The Phoenix asked. Now he stepped closer to him, Baekhyun is confused of why does this y creature even looks so scary back then. If he knew he is haunted by this kind of creature, maybe he will not wake up any time soon.

            Oh, right, because of Jongdae.

“It is. Actually, you know, the prophecy-” Baekhyun started to explain what Jongdae told him before and to his surprise the Phoenix listened to him

***

            Jongdae started to feel nervous. He could not help it. He just sent his childhood friend, his best friend, to the, probably, the most dangerous creature ever. He tapped his foot impatiently as he tried his best not to feel panic. And that is when he felt a soft tap on his shoulder, he turned around.

“Relax Chen, everything is going to be fine” Minseok said, chuckled a little so the younger could be assured

“But- by now- he should be woken up, look- Baek is-“

            Clearly, Jongdae could not be calmed.

“He wakes up! Look!”

            At the words, Jongdae snapped his face, almost with a cracking sound that made Minseok widened his eyes in panic. But, Jongdae is being Jongdae, the boy is fine. However, the wide smile that once plastered at the younger’s face did not look as bright as seconds after he heard the news.

            -probably because the one who wake up is Jongin, not Baekhyun.

            Kyungsoo is screaming like a maniac.

“Jongin! Oh my God! You finally wake up! Don’t do that again to me! Oh my- Jongin!!!”

            -and the rest of his words are basically the same.

“Soo-ah, you hurt me” come a groaned from the said boy thus Kyungsoo immediately put off his hand on the other

            At first, Jongin put his hand on the side of his head. He started to feel dizzy as the injured once left there. After some minutes, he finally remembered the memory he has lost for some moment before he fainted. He widened his eyes in surprise, panicked clearly seen in his eyes, thus he scanned the room immediately.

“Kyungsoo-ah! What are you doing here! Listen, we have to run, the Academy- the Red Forces- okay, it is a long story but-“ he grab Kyungsoo’s shoulder, shake him merciless

At the scene, Sehun chuckled “I already told them, Jongin-ah. Look” he pointed at the future Kris who wave his hand casually

            Jongin’s jaw dropped, he widened his already wide eyes and look at his surroundings. There is Sehun who grinned lightly at him, put one of his hand on the grumpy Luhan, the future Kris on his side. Kyungsoo sat nicely near him, eyes traced with tears when Minseok and Jongdae sat just across them, surely just discussed something. Then, Lay healed Chanyeol and laying Baekhyun on his side. There is one man thought, that made Jongin looked more stupid than before.

“T-Tao hyung?” he guessed and the other nodded

“Yeah, that is my name” he answered casually “Seems like everyone knew me very well, here” he added instantly

            Jongin nodded, his eyebrows furrowed.

“So, what did I miss?” he caught up fast

            Well, he is a good spy for a reason.

“The plan” Kyungsoo answered immediately

***

“So basically you just said that the power to destroy is The Light and the power to nurture is The Fire?” Jongin raised his eyebrows in surprise

            Jongdae shook his head then pointed at the old journal on the floor.

“No. I said that- the power to destroy belonged to this ash-grey gem, it drained your power, and the power to nurture belonged to this red gem-“ Jongdae said

“-the one that Red Forces took, to overwhelm the power” Kyungsoo added

Jongdae nodded and continued “-and without his pair, the ash-grey gem died. They are inseparable. The imbalance made him to find another soulmate”

“That is happened to Baekhyun” Kris mumbled

Jongdae nodded “The red gem or should we called it, Phoenix, combined his power with Baekhyun. Combine- and they shall be the mightiest protector. But they are not the right pair. Baekhyun’s power is too weak for The Phoenix. The two collided powers resulted on an explosion and the tragedy was happened” he pointed at the future Kris

“Divide- and they shall be the cruelest destroyer” Minseok recited the prophecy “The Phoenix is the cruelest destroyer, because he is being separated with his pair, his Light”

“Thus explained why the next texts are ‘to meet each other is their fate, but never in good intention; the mightiest protector will face the cruelest destroyer’” Jongdae said and put the journal on his pocket nicely “From the first, Baekhyun is fated to meet the Phoenix on his dream and both of them should face him” he pointed at Chanyeol and Baekhyun

“-but then Red Forces is happened to attacked us. Here, on the Academy” Kris sighed “We need to go to the Principal’s office. Red Forces wanted to kill the Principal and take over the Academy” he warned

“Yeah, therefore we can not get rid of the phoenix yet. We against the red gem anyway, that is happened to be on Red Forces’s hand. So-“ Jongdae looked at glowing Baekhyun who still closed his eyes “I- I made a plan to borrow Phoenix’s power for the moment” he muttered slowly

Minseok patted Jongdae’s shoulder and added “It is a brilliant idea actually. I mean, Red Forces may have the gem, but the sole power is on Baekhyun’s dream, the Phoenix. If we need more power, thus the right answer is the Phoenix”

“We may depend on Baekhyun and you, Chanyeol” Jongdae said nicely, looked at startled Chanyeol whose name is being called “-but after this mess. We need your power more, Jongin” he averted his gaze to the shock man

“Me?” Jongin pointed at himself when Kyungsoo smiled warmly

“We did not want to get rid of our savior, right? I mean, come on, we are not Red Forces” Luhan said in annoyance “We will bring back the Phoenix to his place, to lay peacefully with his pair. Fortunately, the journal noted the said place so we thought it would be better if we put everything back to normal. Thus, we need a teleporter” he concluded

***

“Okay, tell me. How is this possible? I am trapped in your dream since you got that nineteenth birthday. Spill it”

            The Phoenix said, leaned closer to Baekhyun, amused by the idea. Less than an inch and Baekhyun felt so hot. Well, it is not because of the power actually, Baekhyun knew this.

“T-that is a way. We-e have a teleporter” Baekhyun stuttered at his words when the Phoenix raised on of his eyebrows “We could find a dream visitor and then ask her to tele-port you and- him- and-“

The Phoenix sighed and rolled his eyes, straightened on his foot and snapped at Baekhyun “Forget it. There is an easier way”

Baekhyun widened his eyes in surprise “Is it?”

            He clapped his hands on his chest and looked hopefully at the other man, a rectangular smile plastered on his face. The Phoenix forgot his words at the adorable scene in front of him. He hissed immediately, did not like the idea of being in distracted. Upon the change of expression, Baekhyun tensed, he put his hand down nervously and bit his lip unconsciously.  The Phoenix soon cursed.

“So-sorry” Baekhyun apologized, did not know why the other being mad suddenly

“No, forget it” the Phoenix said, closed his eyes for a moment before added “I mean. There is a way. As far as I know, this Chanyeol shared the same face with me, right?” he asked and Baekhyun nodded immediately “Then, he is my other-self. Put the red gem on him, and the plan would work”

“That is?” Baekhyun asked in disbelief

The Phoenix nodded “It is not that easy, sweetheart. You need to fight against this Red Forces first to get the said red gem”

“Uh oh, you are right” Baekhyun admitted sadly

            He did not realize that he already looked down again. He could hear someone sighed so he looked up again to meet a warm chest that embraced him tightly, hands on his back. He never felt this save before by the said man.

“Now, go back to your friends. They waited you long enough to break the news” The Phoenix chuckled before planted a kiss on his forehead “too bad that you are not mine. It would be better if you are”

            With that, Baekhyun could feel his body lighter. The Phoenix’s warm slowly disappeared but the dark side remained for a moment. He blinked his eyes, and when he opened his eyes again, he is welcomed by another warm of pair hands.

“Baekhyun, you finally wake up!” Chanyeol cheered immediately, hugged the other with his long arms that suddenly lifted awkwardly

“Hands off, Chanyeol” Luhan warned when Sehun chuckled beside the older

            Although Luhan did not realize it yet but actually Sehun and him are inseparable. Chanyeol hissed at Luhan but could not do anything because the other’s dominance looks. He gulped, cursed silently, before looked at confused Baekhyun.

“You could not touch him yet. Remember that Baekhyun accidentally drain your power?” Kyungsoo explained immediately thus Baekhyun realized Jongin has already wake up

Jongdae cleared his throat to ask “So? Phoenix?”

“Oh, right!” as if Baekhyun just remembered, he crawled to Jongdae asked the other to come closer “He agreed“

            -and then Jongdae’s smile is back.

***

“Luhan! Suho! Tao!” he called desperately after the nonstop coughs

            Kris kneeled on his position, tried his best to catch his breath back. Damn Suho and his power. The first thing he realized after that continuous shot of water is Suho collapsed on his position. He carried away by the water, bumped to many surfaces before he finally stopped on a certain ground, thus he did not know where he at. He looked at his surroundings, only to find the more destroyed rooms by various powers.

            What the hell the Red Forces did to the students.

“Wow, you finally here?”

            He widened his eyes when he recognized the voice. It is Yoochun, one of the gifted that recruited by the leader. He cursed immediately when he looked up. Only that, the man did not talk to him, but another man who trapped in the rocks.

            The future Tao.

“You should not be here, you know? You are the next cru- Oh wait, are you seriously coming from the future?” he could heard Yoochun laughed, leaned casually on his claymore “What actually is happened at the future? Did Jae succeed on destroying the Academy? We never know actually”

“None of your business” Tao hissed, tried to stand up but the rock held him back

Yoochun let out another evilly chuckled before leaned closer to the other “Did you know that your hate just make it more obvious?”

“There is no need to hide it then-“ Tao groaned, closed his eyes in agony “You are right, the Academy has been destroyed in my time. But you should know that this is none of your business. You know very well what that red gem is capable of. Before you could realize it, there is nothing left on you. It will kill all of you. Included your lovely bestfriend, Jae will-“

“Shut up!” Yoochun shouted, his eyes are glowing red of anger as his ears started to redden up “He will not betray us”

            The last words came more like a question to Kris than a statement. Just that Kris knew the whole Red Forces worked separately. After hearing their conversation, Kris walked closer to them, searched for any chance to help the other.

“He didn’t let you touch the red gem, yet he asked all of you to come here. Only for- what? Take over the Academy?” Tao smirked “He didn’t trust you, hyung. He never has- you are a gifted. All of you are only a pioneer that soon be replaced by the other. You will be thrown out, along with your lovely best friend”

“Enough talking, I will end you soon” Yoochun lifted his claymore high in the sky and get ready to slash the other before Tao added another sharp question

“But he just killed his lover, didn’t he?”

             The claymore lifted up in the sky, it never touched the ground.

“He won’t kill Yunho” Yoochun whispered “You are a liar” then he narrowed his eyes

“Call me a liar as much as you like, but this fate could not be changed” Tao recited the last part of the prophecy deliberately, earning another hesitation on the other eyes

            Just in time, Kris gained his power back. He stepped hard on the ground, lifted by some inches before skyrocketed to the other side of the room to grab Tao on his hands. Tao has already got rid of the rocks that once held him, get a little bit surprised when Kris suddenly came to the rescue. He mouthed stupid to Kris then stay hidden came later. But then, Kris remained smiling when embraced his Tao tightly.

            Yoochun cursed at the scene, looked up at the couple who floated foots away from him. He launched his claymore desperately only to slash the void miserably. Kris soon floated miles away from the ground, held the future Tao on his side when he scanned the Academy from above.

“Put me down!” Tao ordered immediately

“Last time I let you off, you are fighting against that Jae” Kris hissed “-and now you are provoking his supposed to be right hand. Not gonna do it, sorry” he said sternly

“That is an order, Kris! Put. Me. Down” he shouted in anger but the latter just did not hear him

            Kris narrowed his eyes, look for anyone who he recognized, then he met them. Suho lay unconsciously beside Luhan who injured badly. He kicked the wind, skyrocketed to their direction while embracing Tao tightly. With a soft thump, they arrived at their position. Kris made sure there is no one on his side before tapping on Suho’s shoulder and let Tao run to the future Luhan.

“Suho- Suho. Open your eyes” he said softly

The other groaned, frowned deeply before opened his eyes slowly “K-Kris?”

“. You are helpless. Seriously, what do you think after released that much power” Kris mumbled immediately and put the paled Suho on his lap “Tao, come here. Is Luhan safe?”

            The answered came a little late but Tao made sure that Luhan is fine. Kris sighed immediately, confirmed the news to Suho who could not hide his smile anymore. At least, the four of them are fine. Little they know that the futures did not tell them the truth. Tao glanced at Luhan’s bloody shirt when the other winced.

“You promise me, Tao. Don’t tell them” Luhan whispered so the other could not do anything besides obeyed the older

***

“If this plan ended badly, I suggested you to use your damned power and turned back the time again” Luhan ordered confused Tao who stopped at the track

            They are on the last track on their line, running to principal office. But Tao momentarily stopped at Luhan’s question. He looked weirdly at the other when Sehun awkwardly sent them laughter before ordered the newcomers to walk faster. Tao did it, so Luhan glared at Sehun.

“Just for you know that even you are the last person in the world, I won’t accept you as my boyfriend” Luhan hissed at the other

“But we already are hyung, you could not change that fate either” Sehun gave the other a winked so Luhan stomped the ground in anger and walked passed him

            Sehun’s laughter died seconds after Luhan disappeared from his vision, his flat expression back to his face. He elbowed Jongin’s hand who gulped nervously. Both of them looked at future Kris’s back and turned to confused Tao.

“It is only time before they found out, right?” Jongin asked lowly so only Sehun could heard it

“I wish that time would never came” he added in same tones

            But they did not know that certain pair of eyes is listening to every conversation of them.

***

            The future Kris escorted them to the principal’s office, when Lay followed him behind, stopped every time he saw an injured student and come to help. Tao is followed behind them. He did not like the aura the others giving to him, except that tall man in front of him. Thus, he decided to follow the oldest, at the same time blocked un-wanted attack from the infected students.

            Baekhyun could see red eyes on every student that attacked them. Jongdae guessed that is connected with the red gem which manipulated their minds. Thus, Baekhyun stayed in front, pointed at every student with red eyes so Yixing should be better stayed away from them. Jongdae stayed beside him, he did not have any specialty, thanks to his power that isn’t stable yet.

            However, the others are big hands of help. Besides Tao who protected the front row, there are Minseok and Chanyeol who fought side by side, produced ice crystal and fire gun on both side. Luhan and Sehun followed behind, fought anyone who missed by the other two guardians. Jongin who still recovered from his injury didn’t do much, but he kept on Kyungsoo’s side that protected the last row with his strength.

“It should be here, right?”

            Kris stared at the supposed to be room, but now it filled with bloods, dusts, and ponds of water.

“Suho!” Yixing is the first one to yell

            He looked at the traces of water, straight to seemingly endless hole by hole. The healer immediately ran by the water, followed its traces. The others started to run after him but Kris remained on his position. He looked carefully at the principal office until he found a pond of bloods. His eyebrows furrowed.

“Why you didn’t follow the others, Kyungsoo-ah?” he asked, even without looking back at the younger behind him

            It reminded him at the last time he saw the boy. It probably five years ago, before the incident is happened when the boy accidentally broke his ribs. He could not help but to giggle softly.

“You lied to us, didn’t you hyung?” Kyungsoo asked

            At the question, Kris remained on his position.

He didn’t dare to turn his back “I did not remember saying something to you either, Kyungsoo-ah”

“I- I heard it. I overheard Jongin and Sehun’s conversation before”

Kris sighed “-and that is?”

“Suicide mission” Kyungsoo said in between his sobbing “Tao’s power is only meant to travel back. You already considered it, when all the present-self looking at your face, all the future-self would die. Thus, when you back to the past, you didn’t plan to travel back. Hyung, how could you do this to us?”

            By now, Kyungsoo is already a sobbing mess. Kris cursed Kyungsoo’s brain to be the smartass thus he found out about Tao’s power even when no one noticed that. That is another reason why he did not introduce himself as the future in front of present Tao. He did not want the latter to know either.

“It is for the better future, Kyungsoo-ah” he let out a deep breath

            Once he turned his back, Kyungsoo already buried his face on his hands, sobbing hardly. Kyungsoo has always been a baby for Kris. Despite the power of earth, and his strength, Kyungsoo has always been the sweetest among them. He cares a lot, thus he cried a lot even over little things. But suicide mission is not a little thing, Kris knew it. That is why he needed five years straight to think about it before agreed with Tao’s idea of turning back the time.

            It has never been his idea from the start, it is Tao. Looking how cruel Red Forces lead the world and how broken his husband after all of his loses. Luhan’s state did not help either, his scars kept reminding him about the incident. In their perspective, the world has been ruined. Thus, one fine day, they decided to change the future. Kris is the one who balked the idea, but looking at how determines Tao is, he gave up.

            It is under one condition though.

            Don’t tell the others about the rule. It is better for them not to know the truth behind Tao’s power. But here he is became the one that is caught.

“Promise me you won’t tell anyone. It is for the better them” Kris put his hands on Kyungsoo’s shoulder, shook it a bit

“B-but why? This is non-sense, hyung!” Kyungsoo shouted

Kris embraced the other immediately, let the other’s cries muffled on his chest when his hands caressed Kyungsoo’s back “You don’t want your friend here to mourn over someone that should not be here in your time, right? Don’t put another pressure to the others, Kyungsoo-ah. At least, your hyung is still there. I am still alive somewhere, over there” he chuckled at his own words, asked Kyungsoo to look for the other side of the room

            He pointed at the holes made by the water traces when the others have left them. Kris remained on his position, looking at how miserably Kyungsoo to nod at his words. Kyungsoo wiped his tears with his hand, tried his hard to hold his last sob before threw his famous glare to the other. He put his finger on Kris’s chest, poked him lightly.

“Just for you know that you are still my hyung, here. Try your best not to get kill with those damned Red Forces. Did I make myself clear?” Kyungsoo asked, earned another chuckled from Kris that soon smiled widely

“Yes, sir, Yes” he muttered lowly

            Just then a head popped out from the hole, a confused Tao came to the scene.

“Everyone look for you guys, they started to get panicked when they realize you are not with them. The teleporter is the worst and I guess you are still here, perfectly fine. Come on” Tao explained

            Kris patted Kyungsoo’s back lightly and asked him to walk first. He glanced at the time control power’s back that walked a little bit slower than usual. He also knew, it is his own power anyway, Kris thought.