DISCLAIMER: Once again, I do not own Zatch Bell or anything associated.

AUTHORS NOTE: I changed the spelling of some of the names in this chapter. Gasshu is now just Gash, and Foregore is now Folgore. Thank you Rahkshi500, Rabukurafuto, Sarah303, and SpiritAnime for the reviews. I hope to get more later.

"Bye you guys!" Megumi called to Kafuka, Umagon, Folgore, and Kyanchome about an hour later. They had all been at the park, talking. It was beginning to get late; therefore they decided it was time to go. Kiyomaro, Megumi, Gash, and Tio remained, sitting on the swing set.

"Are you sure you're ok now, Kiyomaro?" Megumi asked with worry, holding the chains on her swing loosely. Kiyomaro smiled and looked at her.

"I'm just fine. That spell helped out a lot." he said.

"Megumi quit obsessing. He's alright, you've asked him five times already." Tio said.

"Yeah and besides, Ki-" Gash started. He froze completely, stopping his swing in its tracks.

"Gash?" Kiyomaro asked with confusion.

"Someone is here." Gash stated, getting up.

"Where, Gash?" Megumi demanded, standing as well. Kiyomaro took out his spell book and took several steps in the opposite direction, looking around the park.

"I don't see anything, Gash." He said.

"I don't hear anything." Tio said shortly after.

"Gikoru!" A voice that Kiyomaro recognized called.

"Megumi, move!" Tio cried desperately as an ice shard flew at the young singer. It zoomed passed Kiyomaro's head, in between the swings, and hit the back of Megumi's right shoulder.

"AAAGH!" Megumi cried. Kiyomaro turned quickly, seeing the shard shrink in length.

"Megumi!" He yelled, running to her. She fell to her knees in pain, holding the front of the shard. Kiyomaro knelt down behind her, examining the wound.

"Megumi, are you-" Gash started.

"Furizudo!" The voice called again. A rush of cold air hit Kiyomaro's legs, freezing them in place. He looked around, growling.

"Damn... Megumi, I'm sorry. This will hurt." Kiyomaro said softly, placing his hands on the shard. "Open your spell book to the healing spell. As soon as I do this, heal yourself, alright?"

Megumi nodded slowly and clenched her fists in pain, feeling the sudden pressure of Kiyomaro's hand on the shard.

"Here it goes..." Kiyomaro said. In one quick motion, he pulled the shard out, opening the wound. Megumi cried out in pain, tears escaping her eyes. "It's alright." Kiyomaro muttered. "Heal yourself, hurry. Gash, get over here!" He demanded.

"Saifojio!" Megumi said tearfully. Once again, the sword materialized, this time striking Megumi.

"Gash, face that way!" Kiyomaro demanded, pointing to the left. Gash did as he was told and faced the direction the spells had come from. "Zakeru!"

Gash's eyes glowed bright white and lightning flew from his mouth. It struck the tree, causing an immensely bright light as the area exploded.

"Did we get them?" Kiyomaro asked Gash shortly after. His legs were beginning to numb from the ice.

"Don't count on it." A child's voice said.

"Ganzu Gikoru!" From the right, several large shards of ice flew at the four, seeming to cut through the air.

"Seushiru!" Megumi called. Seconds before the ice hit them, a pink bubble surrounded the group, destroying the attacks as they hit.

"Kiyomaro, are you able to move?" Gash asked, standing next to his partner.

"With this ice here, no. Gash, let's try a Zakeru." Kiyomaro said in response.

"Are you sure?" Gash asked uncertainly.

"It's worth a try. I'm useless if I can't move." Kiyomaro said. "Look at the ice, ready?"

"Go for it." Gash said.

"Zakeru." Kiyomaro said. A small zap of lightning hit the ice, creating a small cloud of smoke.

"Did it work, Kiyomaro?" Megumi asked, looking over.

Kiyomaro looked down at his legs hopefully. "Damn..." He muttered. "No luck."

"Ha, Ha, Ha! Did you think it would be that easy to destroy Reikom's ice?" The voice said again.

"I knew it." Gash muttered.

"Show yourselves, Reikom and Hosokawa!" Kiyomaro demanded.

"Nah, I think we'll have a little fun before we do that." Reikom said. "What do you think Hosokawa?"

"Sounds like a plan." Hosokawa responded.

"Gash, face that way." Kiyomaro said, pointing east.

"You're not going to hurt us with that little lightning attack." Hosokawa said mockingly.

"We'll see." Kiyomaro said. "Zakeruga!"

Gash opened his mouth, immediately releasing another wave of lightning. Instead of the usual attack, it flew out as a concentrated beam, rings of lightning surrounding it.

"Gishirudo." Hosokawa said boredly. A gust of icy wind suddenly flew by them, gathering in front of the Zakeruga and canceling it out.

"Megumi, now." Kiyomaro muttered.

"Saisu!" Megumi called. Tio drew her arms back, both hands glowing orange. Moments later, she threw them forward, crossing each other and ejecting a boomerang shaped blast to the east.

"That will get them for sure!" Kiyomaro said.

"Dareido!" A familiar females voice yelled. A sticky, glue like substance collided with the Saisu, canceling both attacks out and creating an explosion.

"Not them too." Megumi stated.

"Why is this happening? We just finished a battle two hours ago, why are they attacking us?" Tio asked.

"I don't know, but we have to get out of here." Kiyomaro said. "Gash, let's try one more time."

"Alright." Gash said, looking at the ice bounding Kiyomaro's legs.

"Zakeruga!" The beam hit the ice, creating a loud crack noise. Kiyomaro felt a sudden stinging as blood began circulating through his legs once again, and stood.

"Yes! Alright, let's go." He said. The group turned and ran, breathing heavily with nervousness. What was going on? Why were these people attacking?

"You're not going anywhere!" Hosokawa's voice called. "Gikoru Garugle!" Massive icicles erupted in front of them, stopping them in their tracks. "Surround the area, Reikom- Gikoru Garugle!" The ice flew up around them, blocking off a massive area. Kiyomaro looked around. They were trapped. But this gave them an advantage. Since they blocked off the area, the only way they could attack was if they were inside the circle as well.

"Alright, we have no choice now." Kiyomaro said.

"I guess not." Megumi stated. "I remember that spell, Dareido."

"So do I. And the Ice mamono, Reikom... This isn't going to be easy if we can't see our opponents"

"Today's not the best we've had." Gash said.

Two mamono attacks in a single day, and to top it off, they were working in teams.

"Wait... what was it that Patie said, Gash?" Kiyomaro asked.

"A league of mamono..." Tio muttered.

"Huh? What are you two talking about?" Megumi asked.

"No wonder there hasn't been any attacks these passed few weeks!" Kiyomaro announced. "The mamono were opening the portal."

"Portal?" Megumi asked.

"All the mamono that were sent back opened a portal to the human world, and came back." Gash explained.

"According to Patie, they're seeking revenge for sending them back." Tio finished.

"But why are there so many attacking us? We haven't sent that many back, Tio." Megumi stated.

"It isn't you Megumi." Kiyomaro said.

"It's us." Gash finished.

"You?" Megumi asked, confused.

"Yes... we've defeated a lot of mamono. It makes sense that the owners want to destroy the ones who made them lose the power they had." Kiyomaro said.

"You're pretty smart for a kid." Hosokawa's voice said. They looked up. At last the four revealed themselves.

"Well someone has to make up for the brains you lack." Kiyomaro said. Megumi laughed slightly behind him as a scowl crossed Hosokawa's face.

"Think your funny, eh." He said darkly, opening his spell book. "Gikoru!"

"Rashirudo!" Kiyomaro yelled without even opening his book. The large lightning shield erupted in front of them. A large crash emitted from it as the ice collided with it, electricity surrounding it. Suddenly, a large crack formed on the sides, forming smaller ones all the way up it.

"What?" Kiyomaro muttered. "Megumi, move!"

He grabbed Gash's arm and ran to the side, Megumi right behind him, as the shield broke. He looked to Hosokawa, breathing heavily. Casting that many spells already made him tired. How many more would he be able to cast?

"Are you alright, Kiyomaro?" Gash asked, noticing his partners breathing.

"Yeah, I'm fine." He said, straightening up. "I don't think we have a chance against them right now."

"But we're trapped, Kiyomaro." Tio reminded him.

"I know we are... just let me think." He said. He looked at his spellbook.

"Don't take a break yet!" Reikom announced. "Hosokawa?"

"Ra Gikoru Fang!" Hosokawa announced. Kiyomaro's eyes widened. This was new.

"Where is it?" Megumi asked.

"Was it a dud?" Kiyomaro asked. Seconds later, the ground below him erupted, freeing a large, ice, wolf head. "From below me!" Kiyomaro asked with surprise.

"Kiyomaro!" Gash called. He jumped forward, pushing Kiyomaro, and himself away from the large wolf. It closed its jaws in the air and vanished.

"Did you get him?" The female asked.

"Don't count on it, Rupa!" Kiyomaro called. "Zakeru!" The lightning flew at them, crashing into the ground in front of the four. Smoke erupted around them, giving Kiyomaro a chance to think.

"Gash, the only thing we can use to get us out of here is Baou Zakeruga." He said to his mamono. He was breathing heavily. That last spell used another burst of his energy.

"What? You're already drained of your energy, Kiyomaro." Megumi protested.

"Alright." Gash said shortly after. Tio looked at him with surprise.

"Gash are you serious? He can't cast a spell like that, he's drained!" She said in protest.

"That doesn't matter, Tio. You do what you have to in a battle. Zakeru and Zakeruga aren't strong enough."

"And it will burn their books." Gash said.

"We can use a different formation! You guys can get the books, and we'll keep them busy." Megumi said. Kiyomaro hesitated, looking at her.

"Fine... Keep us covered but don't use too much energy." Kiyomaro finished.

"Alright..." Megumi said at last. She opened her spell book. "Are you ready, Tio?"

"You bet!" Tio said.

"Let's go." Kiyomaro said. The group ran forward into the dust, spell books glowing.

"I can't see!" Papipurio announced.

"Yeah, neither can the rest of us." Hosokawa said annoyed.

"Saisu!" Megumi called. The boomerang flew out, hitting Papipurio directly. "Saisu!" She called again. Another boomerang hit Reikom, knocking him away.

"Little brat!" Hosokawa growled. He stepped forward, moving toward Megumi's figure.

"Let's go, Gash!" Kiyomaro announced. Hosokawa turned to face the direction of the voice, coming face to face with Kiyomaro. "Gash, get his mamono!"

"Right!" Gash said. "Tio, get the other one."

"Alright." Tio said. The two ran toward the mamono.

"Megumi, try to get Rupa's book!" Kiyomaro called. "And be careful!"

"You got it!" Megumi said.

"Damn it you brat-Gikoru!" Hosokawa growled, throwing a punch at Kiyomaro. The teenager quickly ducked, throwing a punch at Hosokawa's stomach. He heard a gasp for breath as his fist connected and stood straight, reaching for the book.

"No you don't," Hosokawa said, forcing the book down on Kiyomaro. It struck him across the face, the force sending him back several steps. He shook his head, dazed from the unexpected action. He was tripped seconds later as Reikom tackled his legs, knocking him down.

"If Reikom is free then…-Gash!" Kiyomaro called. No answer. He heard Megumi and Tio fighting still. But Gash was down.

"You annoying piece of crap." Hosokawa muttered, kicking Kiyomaro across the face. He had experienced it before, though last time, his arm was frozen to the ground by ice. "How about I show you how it feels to be powerless."

"You would know." Kiyomaro growled in return. Hosokawa stared at him, smirking.

"Rupa, do you have those two under control yet?" Hosokawa called.

"Dareido!"

"Ew! What is this junk!" Tio cried out. "I can't move! It's so gross!"

"Be quiet." Papipurio said.

"Papipurio, look this way-Ah!" Rupa cried.

"How dare you do that to Tio!" Megumi yelled.

"Furizudo!" Reikom turned to face Megumi, instantly freezing her legs. She fell over, shielding her head with her arms.

"Megumi!" Kiyomaro called. He lifted himself up slightly, only to be kicked down by Hosokawa once again. The man placed his foot atop Kiyomaro's head, holding it down.

"It's no use. There's no way you can win so be a good boy and surrender your book."

"Don't… do it Kiyomaro!" Gash suddenly announced. He sounded injured… Kiyomaro could tell. "Don't give up yet!"

"You again. Reikom, take care of him." Hosokawa said forcefully.

"You got it." Reikom announced. "Wanna give me a hand?"

"Please, allow me." Papipurio said.

"Poreid!" Rupa called. A dark substance flew from the mamono's mouth and hit Gash, instantly paralyzing him.

"What? How did it work so fast this time?"

"We've adapted our abilities since the last time we met." Papipurio said. "So now we can control the time it takes for each spell!"

"I got her book, Hosokawa" Reikom said, holding up a light orange spell book. Tio's eyes widened as she stared at the mamono with rage.

"No! Put that down! No!" She struggled against the hold unsuccessfully. "Megumi! Do something!"

"I can't move!" Megumi announced.

Kiyomaro lay there, unable to move as well. He clenched his fists tightly, eyes narrowed. His spell book began glowing bright red.

"Huh…" Hosokawa muttered, noticing the sudden change of light.

"Leave them out of this!" He yelled suddenly. Hosokawa looked down with surprise as Kiyomaro took hold of his leg, pulling it to the side. He stumbled and fell, allowing Kiyomaro enough time to stand. He got up without hesitation and opened the spell book. "Zakeru!"

The lightning spell flew forward, hitting Reikom directly. The spell book flew out of his arms and Kiyomaro ran forward, grasping it tightly.

"Damn it!" Hosokawa yelled.

"You'll pay for hurting them…" Kiyomaro muttered, staring blankly at the ground. He looked up, eyes filled with rage. "Gash, can you move!" The small mamono gingerly pulled at his arms, smiling broadly at the small amount they were moving.

"Not to well, but more or less!" Gash announced.

"Alright, brace yourself!" The spell book glowed brighter than before as Kiyomaro turned the pages, stopping when the light was almost white.

"Kiyomaro…?" Megumi muttered uneasily.

"Here we go… Baou Zakeruga!" Kiyomaro cried out. Out of Gash's mouth flew a large, lightning dragon, a red gem rested on its forehead.

"Do I have to do everything!" Patie's voice suddenly called.

"Sou Gyakuru!" Uri called. Kiyomaro's eyes widened slightly as a huge water dragon emerged out of the blue.

"Hya!" Patie cried, forcing her arms forward. The dragon advanced on them, colliding with the Baou Zakeruga.

"Come on, Gash, we can't lose this!" Kiyomaro cried, tightening his grip around his spell book. "We won't lose-Aaagh!" The book began to glow brighter, almost a white as power flowed through it. The dragon let off a loud roar, pushing passed the water dragon.

"No… not again…" Patie muttered.

"Run!" Ururu cried, grabbing Patie and leaving. The Baou Zakeruga struck the ground where they once were and than roase into the air, vanishing with a roar. Kiyomaro fell to his knees, breathing heavily. Beside him, two spell books burned, one blue, and the other teal.

"No! Not my book!" Papipurio cried. "No, I can't go back! I can't! I want to be king!"

"Papipurio…" Rupa muttered, reaching out for the book. Her hand hovered above it hopelessly.

"Reikom…" Hosokawa muttered. "So I lost you again…" Reikom didn't even struggle as his book burned. He simple fell to his knees before it, staring with disbelief and annoyance.

"It's been fun." He said. He looked up at the group. "You guys are a good team. We didn't stand a chance against you." He looked to Gash. "And as for you. Don't let any of the other mamono beat you. There are a lot of them, each one fierce." Gash looked at him, amazed by his sudden attitude towards them. "They're stronger than they were."

"I will," Gash said, confidently. Reikom turned to Hosokawa, standing.

"Well, I guess this is goodbye." He said. Hosokawa stared at him. "Good luck." With that he vanished.

"Papipurio, I'm sorry" Rupa said, watching the boy hopelessly.

"Goodbye, Rupa." Papipurio stated, vanishing. The two humans stared at the group for several seconds before turning and running.

"I'm fine, don't worry." Kiyomaro said, standing up. He walked to Megumi and handed her the Orange spell book. "Are you three alright?" He helped her up, his breathing lighter.

"I'm fine." Megumi said. "Kiyomaro, you shouldn't have used that spell. You're lucky you're still standing."

"I said I'm alright, Megumi." Kiyomaro retorted. He looked over to the two mamono. "Are you guys alright?" He asked.

"Yeah, we're fine." Tio responded. "Not too much damage done. Gash did get hit once though."

"But I'm fine." Gash finished. The two mamono walked to Kiyomaro and Megumi. Tia had small scratches and bruises throughout her body, and Gash had a good-sized cut on his shoulder. "Let's get going before anyone else comes."

"Yeah, good idea." Tio said. "Come on, Megumi. Let's go home."

"Maybe I should walk you," Kiyomaro suggested with worry.

"It's alright, Kiyomaro." Megumi said, smiling. "I can take care of myself."

"Yeah. I won't let anything happen to her, Kiyomaro." Tio said, smiling.

"But what about you, Tio." Gash stated. "Who's going to keep an eye on you."

"Gash, I can keep an eye on myself." Tio returned.

"But," Gash said.

"Gash, enough. Let's go." Kiyomaro said, taking the mamono's arm. "Bye you guys. Megumi, call my cell phone if anything goes wrong ok."

"Alright." Megumi said, smiling. "Come on, Tio." The two walked away as Kiyomaro and Zatch walked toward their home.

AUTHORS NOTE: As you can see, Reikom had a soft spot in the end. I had my own reasons for doing that. Please Read and Review!