Kao never wanted to let Earth go again.

He buried his face in Earth's neck as Earth stopped struggling and Kao breathed a sigh of relief, knowing he was finally awake.

"P'Kao?" Earth turned to face him and Kao wrapped his arms around him, tucking Earth's head under his chin. Kao felt Earth's legs give out and gently helped him sink to the ground. He cradled Earth to his chest and stroked his hair, focusing on getting his heart rate under control.

Kao was confused when he first woke up to the empty space next to him. At first, he didn't think anything of it because Earth didn't sleep. But Earth was still usually next to him all night. He almost laid down and went back to sleep, but something told him he should go look for Earth and see if everything was alright. He was glad he followed his gut because when he found Earth at the top of the cliff, he knew something was wrong. He called out to Earth, who was walking toward the edge with one arm outstretched, and Earth froze for a moment.

"Let's go rest," Kao heard Earth say, groggily, as he approached. He must have been sleep walking. Earth started to walk forward again so Kao reached out and caught him by the wrist.

White-hot fear gripped Kao as he felt the resistance of Earth pulling away from him, closer to the edge. He pulled Earth to him, wrapping his arms around his chest to get a better hold of him.

"Let me go!" Earth cried out, thrashing about but Kao held him tight.

"Earth! Wake up!" he said but Earth didn't budge. They were mere inches from the edge now and Earth was fighting too much for Kao to pick him up safely. Kao was starting to panic, desperate to wake Earth before he got hurt.

"Earth! Please! Wake up! It's me! Please!" he cried in Earth's ear, almost in tears as he tried to project as much Light energy into Earth as he could. That got Earth to stop flailing and then, like a rubber band snapping, Earth fell backwards into Kao, who wrapped his arms tighter around Earth.

Kao never wanted to let Earth go again.

His heart raced as he held Earth in his arms. He didn't know how long they sat there, just holding each other, but Kao knew he had never felt such fear in his life as the tears rolled down his face.

As he carried Earth into their room of the cave, Kao didn't even want to think about what might have happened had he not been there. Kao sat down on the mattress, Earth still in his arms, and cradled him in his lap, Earth's face still buried into his shoulder.

Kao really didn't want to let Earth go.

He gently brushed the hair from Earth's face as he fell deeper and deeper into those chocolate-brown eyes that looked up at him.

"Thank you, P'Kao," Earth said, barely above a whisper and Kao responded by placing a kiss on the top of Earth's head.

"Can you tell me what happened?" Kao asked gently, searching for answers. Was he just sleep walking, or was there something more sinister at play? Kao had a feeling he already knew the answer.

"It...it was so real, P'Kao," Earth said after a moment. "I honestly had no idea I was dreaming. You were there and we went for a walk like we always do. Nothing unusual. Except for when we got to the cave. Something felt off, but you--err, who I thought was you-- were very insistent on going inside. It wasn't until I heard your voice that I realized that it was the Spirit of Darkness leading me along the whole time." Earth whipped his head up to look at Kao, a horrified expression on his face. "It was controlling me, P'Kao! I had no control over what I was doing! What if it does it again?! What if it takes over and I do something worse? What if I hurt you, P'Kao?" Earth was near hysteric as he raised a finger to shake it at Kao. "And I know what you're thinking and you are NOT going to stay up all night keeping an eye on me! Your human body still needs sleep."

Kao closed his mouth, swallowing that idea and wondering if Earth had mind-reading abilities as well. Earth was right...but that didn't mean that Kao wasn't willing to do it in a heartbeat. Kao pulled Earth's head back to his chest to soothe him.

"Fine. I won't, but we still need to tell the others about this. And don't you argue with me about it. What if it goes after Pineare next? We need to think of everyone's safety."

Kao smiled slightly as he saw Earth close his mouth this time as he realized Kao was right and let out a deep sigh.

"You're right. We need to think of the others," Earth mumbled, almost to himself.

"Good. Now let's get some rest before morning." Kao pulled Earth closer, still cradled in his lap, and placed a kiss on his temple.

Earth knew it was pointless to protest when Kao settled down, leaned up against the wall with Earth still in his arms, but Kao refused to let him go. Even for a minute. They could separate in the morning but, for now, Kao needed Earth in his arms to keep him safe, if only for his own sanity.

The next morning, Earth slightly hid behind Kao's shoulder as they stood in front of the High Elementals, explaining the previous night's events. Something tickled at the back of Kao's mind but he didn't know what so he just brushed it away.

Boun's eyebrows furrowed as he processed Kao's words and he ran a hand through his silver hair.

"This is starting to get too close to home," he said, looking at Bosston. "Boss, we need to gather everyone and go over a strategy. We're running out of time."

There it was again! That feeling! Kao couldn't quite place it. It was almost...melancholy...sad...pained...
Kao looked around, but Boun and Bosston didn't seem to notice it as they continued to discuss plans. Kao turned to look at Earth, whose face was pale white.

"You feel it?" Kao asked out of earshot of the other two, to which Earth responded with a slight nod. "Me too." He didn't like that feeling...it seemed to be growing, the uneasiness.

"Boun, I think it might be a little late for that..." Kao said, cautiously looking around.

As if on cue, the Meadow started to shake and Kao instinctively reached back to wrap a protective arm around Earth. One by one, each of the Elementals joined them, but Kao didn't notice. He was too fixated on the dark figure standing in the middle of the clearing.

"The Darkness is here."