Summary: Five years have passed. Many were lost in the last Uprising. Those who survived are trying to move on with their lives. Surviving in any way they can. But a new force has appeared in the Lost Ground, threatening their peaceful home. The past returns to haunt our heroes and their futures hang in the balance. New powers, new characters, new villains and old friends surface. Will the Lost ground find salvation at last? Or will it be consumed by the evil threatening it? Ryuhou/Mimori, Kazuma/Kanami (in the begining). Other pairings to be revealed. Pairings will change as the story develops! You have been warned!
Exactly five years have passed since the Lost Ground declared war upon the Mainland. Kazuma and Ryuhou have undertaken separate but similar tasks: trying to free the prisoners in the Mainland and protecting the Lost Ground. Mimori Kiryu has become an Inner and built a new clinic to take care of the sick and providing education to the children so that they may have a brighter future. Kazuma Torushima continues to live life in whatever way he can to survive along with the ever faithful Kanami Yuta by his side. Ryuhou Ryu wanders from the city and the outer lands to rectify the damage HOLY and HOLD caused during its reign.
All people who took part in the shift in power within the Lost Ground were contributing in their own way to its survival, trying to preserve this small nest of peace they have created for themselves over the past few years. However, dark and dangerous times loomed in the fragile future of the Lost Ground.
A young lady with exceptionally long brown hair coiled into a pony tail with a large pink ribbon knocked politely at the door of a large home. She was dressed in a long light yellow dress that had a pink sash at the waist. Voices could be heard inside the house and soon the door opened to reveal a slightly out of breath but sunny Mimori Kiryu.
"Konichiwa Kanami-chan. On time as always and with a new dress at that." She greeted with a smile. Kanami had grown into a beautiful young lady. She had grown in size and in spirit. She was stronger as she promised Kazuma she would be. Yet she held a gracefulness and serenity that even Mimori wished she could mimic at times. Kanami's green eyes lit up with satisfaction.
"Of course I am. I'm not a slacker like Kazu-kun. Kazu-kun gave me the money for the dress and Ryuhou brought me to the city to buy it. Now that the Lost Ground runs the Economic district it's open to everyone, Alter Users and Inners alike." She said with a simple smile.
But Mimori could see the fondness in her eyes as she mentioned the Alter Users. They were like her older brothers but she worried about the amount of love Kanami had for Kazuma. It was overwhelming at times.
"They aren't back yet?" Mimori enquired, worry creasing her forehead.
"No...But they will be. Kazu-kun and Ryuhou will come back." She said with that look of knowing something others didn't which she probably did. Her Alter Power allowed her to read other's feelings and minds so Mimori could understand if she could perceive or foresee some events.
"Anyways, are the children ready? I have to get them back to home soon. It's almost sunset." The young woman pointed out.
"Sumanai Kanami-chan. Class! Kanami-chan is here!" She yelled into the house. Mimori gave daily lessons to the children in the village to allow them the chance to move forward in life. Kanami was paid to bring them in the morning and take them home. Due to Mimori's constant vigilance about building a proper clinic, which is attached to her home, the general health of the Inners had improved over the past few months. Plus she got to further investigate the other reason she had come to the Lost Ground: to learn more about Alter Users and their source of power. Her research was almost complete with all the data she's collected over the years.
The children ran out of the house and crowded around Kanami. She greeted them all individually and started to leave with them.
"Demo, are you sure you don't want me to come with you?" Mimori called from her doorway, her coat already off the hanger.
"If you came you'd have to stay overnight in the village. People don't come to an empty house ne Mimori-san? Ja!" Kanami's replied ominously as she left with the children buzzing around her.
Mimori waved goodbye as they all went home pondering over Kanami's cryptic words. 'Maybe she means he'll come home tonight…' She said to herself as she entered her large home and started preparing for her 'guest', if he decided to show up today. He hadn't for the past few weeks. But tonight he did surprisingly. After she had finished taking her shower and cooked a simple dinner, she found him seated in her living room. Mimori stopped dead in her tracks.
"Ryuhou…" She breathed as her heart clenched at the sight of him. His brown cloak was in tatters around his strong shoulders, pants ripped at random intervals and his bandages were undone in a jumble at his feet. Mimori sighed as she left and came back with a new cloak and clothes under her left arm and hot soup in the other. She set aside the bundle and handed him the small bowl of soup as she went about replacing his bandages.
"You haven't been eating well Ryuhou, it shows. Kanami-chan hinted that you might show up tonight. What have you and Kazuma been doing these past few weeks?" She asked as she tied the bandages tighter. Ryuho drank the soup and cringed.
"Use a little less salt next time." He commented.
"Is that the first thing you can say to me? You know I've only just begun to learn how to cook Ryuhou. Either you starve or you eat. I've already packed some for you." She replied slightly miffed. So she couldn't cook to save her life. So what? She was a genius that made up for that one fault.
"Arigatou Mimori." He said softly. Her anger seeped away at his voice and she forgave him.
"It's already forgotten. Now, I asked you a question. What have you and Kazuma been doing these past few weeks?" She asked again as she started disinfecting some new wounds.
"Kazuma and I have been trying to find this 'Goddess of Victory' the people have been spotting here and around the mainland. Have you heard anything?" He asked in a calm tone.
"Hai. The children just tell me what their parents hear. A hooded woman who has been leading a small groups in the Mainland, releasing alter users and inners alike from imprisonment and enslavement. She is greatly liked and revered amongst the people here. It must be a band of rebels who are trying to revolt I'm sur-"
"It could be a trick created by the Mainland." Ryuhou interjected. She shook her head in firm disagreement.
"They wouldn't do such a thing. Things are better now, thanks to you and Kazuma. The Mainland no longer wishes to control us. They wouldn't want to stir up a hornets nest. Everyone is aiming for peace now. You shouldn't think everyone is out for a fight Ryuhou." She said with surety.
Ryuho's expression became stoic as it always was when their ideals clashed. Mimori frowned. She sat on her haunches and looked up at him as she took one of his hands in her own. She felt a sense of foreboding instil itself within her.
"I'm leaving Mimori, for the Mainland. I've already discussed it with Kazuma and Kanami. I came here tonight to tell you myself."
"What! But why? You're wanted there! They'll kill you!" She exclaimed with fear.
"They could kill me here as well. Mimori, I still have to free those I imprisoned unknowingly. This so called Goddess of Victory and her band of rebels aren't suited for the job. I have asked Kanami and Kazuma to check on you more frequently in my absence. I'm sorry but I still have things I must do…" He said trailing off as he starred outside. Mimori looked away from him but held his hand tightly.
"Am I ever going to be one of those things?" She asked quietly with a sad and bitter smile on her face. Ryuhou was silent.
"Even if I persevere on this path I chose, the path to follow you no matter what, I'm still losing you aren't I Ryuhou? You're never here. You sleep in that cabin above that village she helped you protect back then when you're away don't you." She said with anger laced within her soft voice. Ryuhou looked shocked.
"Surprised? I followed you once when you left a year ago. You had forgotten your cloak and backpack Kanami packed for you remember?"
"But you gave it too me the next morning. I remember." He replied with finality.
"Hai, but I had asked around to see where you were staying. They told me you were always staying in that cabin. They called it your home. I went up there at night to surprise you but I found you training up there. You were destroying the rocks and everything around you. You were crying 'Why? Why did you have to do that for a guy like me? Why wasn't I strong enough to protect you?' in the night air. I'm sure we both know whom you were referring too." She pointed out sadly.
"Mimori..."
"I've been waiting for you and I'll continue to wait because I love you but I don't think I can reach you anymore. Not like back then. And I don't think I can replace her in your heart can I?" Ryuhou's wine red eyes filled with pain and remorse but Mimori pressed on.
"The pain of losing her, it's still fresh in yuor heart. I can still see it in your eyes. Plus Kazuma told me how you reacted to her death..." Ryuhou bowed his head with guilt.
"When you sleep here, which is rare, I hear you calling our to her from my room. I pretend I don't notice but I do. It's...madening. I'm here now! Why can't you see that? Ryuhou!" She cried with tears filling her eyes.
"Mimori I know and I've tried but I can't do this any longer. I do love you but what we're doing or trying to do...I think it ended a long time ago. I'm so-"
"Don't apologise! I knew what I was getting into. You never promised me anything. Yet you still came back to me and made sure I was alright. Made sure I was happy even if I was happiest with you with me. I'll never forget that... Maybe this is for the best. Maybe this will give us both time to heal. For good." She said forcing a smile. Ryuhou was stunned. He had underestimated Mimori's feelings.
"Just make sure you eat right from now on. I think if she were here, she'd force feed you or sweet talk you into eating until you were well again." She said not knowing if she was joking or not as she handed him the new clothes and cloak. Ryuhou cracked a smile, gently touching her cheek and squeezing her hand in comfort.
"Arigatou Mimori. For understanding and for everything." He said standing up to leave when she caught hold of his hand again. Mimori held onto him with her left hand and her pendant with her right hand. She didn't look at him in the eye as she spoke.
"Promise me you won't die out there. I'll keep the pendant to make sure of that. Just promise me this one thing even if I never see you again that's all I need." She said as tears threatened to fall. She felt him shift and in next to no time she was in his arms. Shock flowered on her face as he lowered his head to her lips and kissed her gently.
That embrace held such a feeling of fianlity she had to force her tears back. She refused to cry in front of him.
"It's not my time to die, Mimori. I intend to live for myself, for the Lost Ground, for her and for you." He whispered before he disappeared with a sharp flick of his wrist and the warpping of his image in the air. Mimori starred out her window, her hands clutching her pendant and the other one her still tingling lips. This was all that remained of him now. A fading impression of his warm lips and her pendant, this was her only link to the man she loved. She prayed to the heavens he would be safe.
"Goodbye my love." She whispered as she let the tears fall freely down her rosy cheeks.
"Why didn't you ever tell her while she was alive? You had chances." A soft voice asked. Ryuhou looked to his side and wasn't surprised to find Kanami sitting on her favourite boulder. He was a few meters from her home. He had come to say goodbye. Kazuma had moved the boulder closer to the house to ensure Kanami didn't stray too far.
"You should really stop prying into other peoples minds Kanami. He said trying to scold her. She shrugged.
"No need to read your mind for something that's clearly written on your face." She replied swinging her feet rhythmically.
"Where is Kazuma?" He asked instead of answering her questions.
"He went to go see Mimori-chan. He figured you'd made her cry again so he decided to go cheer her up. You still didn't answer my question." She pointed out not looking at him.
"I wasn't sure about how I felt." He replied eventually.
"She was sure. You just chose to ignore it. That's the kind of man you are and she accepted that. You were just too focused on Kazu-kun or forced yourself to be more focused on kazu-kun to confront the issue." She replied wisely.
"Do you...Do you think she would forgive me Kanami?" Ryuhou asked starring at the stars. The stars were so much closer here. She jumped from the boulder and extended a small parcel, full of food he supposed. He accepted it and her hug.
"If I can forgive Kazu-kun every time he does something stupid, then anything is possible. But you'll never know until you try to gain forgiveness. Be careful out there i have a strange feeling about the Mainland. Have a safe journey Ryuhou." She said heading back to the small house she and Kazuma now inhabited. Ryuhou watched her, bemused, until she entered the house.
Only Kanami could turn advice into a slap in the face with such grace. She never ceased to be an enigma sometimes. He turned and walked away from the home, his new cloak billowing as he disappeared.
"I'll never know Kanami, because I'll never get the chance to ask her." His voice whispered as the wind carried it into the abyss of space.
A short hooded figure starred towards the Lost Ground as it stood upon a cliff face.
"Hime-sama, our preparations are complete. We may begin with our next operation immediately," said a very tall man with shaded pink glasses as he stood behind the princess. She didn't respond.
"Hime-sama?" He called to get her attention but she kept facing the Lost Ground.
"He's coming. At least, one of the three is heading this way. The one with the alter named Zetsuei. Finally. I was getting tired of trying to get their attention." She said turning from the cliff face and making her way back towards the pink car that automatically opened its doors to allow the passengers to enter. Her guardian froze at the name of the Alter and looked at her carefully as she entered his car although with some reluctance.
"What should we do about him? He may become a problem if he interferes." He pointed out casually.
"He may or he may not. If he does, we'll have choice but to send him back to the Lost Ground if he interferes with our operations. We can't kill him or the other ones. Onee-sama has stressed that fact very clearly. We will need them soon enough. So troublesome and I haven't even met these guys yet." She sighed putting on her seatbelt.
"Nee-sama and nii-sama are going to leave this to us so we can't screw up Ou-chan. No matter what" She said raising her hood so that only her purple bangs and dark green eyes were visible as well as some her pale skin.
Her guardian let out a relieved smiled. Good. It would be easier this way.
For all of them.
"You can count on me Hime-sama!" He exclaimed with a mad grin as he turned the ignition. The pink car roared to life.
"Let's go back Ou-chan, I'm tired. And you better not get us killed or noticed by crashing the car else Akira-baa-chan and Nee-sama tear you to shreds when we get back." She warned him.
"Ah! Of course not Hime-sama!" He crooned as he floored the engine and went speeding down the cliff.
"And get my name right!" She exclaimed as she opened put her left hand out and a portal filled with kaleidoscopic light opened in their path before he ran them into a wall or worst. Her right hand stayed near her mouth in case her dinner decided to make an appearance.
"But what is a name really?" He asked with a dangerous glint bouncing off his pink shades.
"Canonereallybedefinedbyanamealone? Speedcannotbedefinedbyitsname."
His car roared and swirved to avoid crashing into a large boulder.
"Itmustbefeltthroughimmeasurableexperience.Suchaswearedoingnow! Isn't it Fantastic?!" He squealed flooring the engine. They were going 330! Ou-chan was miffed, they were going too slow!
"Ou-chan! I'm going to have you killed!" She yelled as they entered the portal.
"Hai Hime-sama!" He exclaimed as the portal disappeared leaving no trace of them but flaming tire marks.
Good? Bad? Awful? Let me know and I shall continue! :)
Miyako-dono