Chapter One

Rowen banged his head on kitchen table as he waited for the others to arrive. His head was swimming with so many readings and mathematical functions that he almost couldn't think himself. He was overwhelming himself again, and he finally realized he could over do studying. Although, it would be a first for him and he was sure that guys would find that amusing if he dared to admit it to him.

"Ro," a woman's voice said with concern. "Are you okay?"

He turned his head to look at the auburn haired woman who was smiling at him from the kitchen doorway. She was tall and lanky with shining blue eyes, she wore a dark skirt and plain shirt, "you'll do fine! You always do!"

"Thanks, Mia," he grumbled shoving his blue hair from his face and folding his arms underneath his head. "What time did you say the guys would get here?"

"Later this afternoon," she smiled as she sat down across from him. "Yuli should be coming as well. Kento is going to pick him up for me."

"I haven't seen him in a couple of years," Rowen sighed and she could see concern on his face. "This grad school stuff is no joke."

"He understands that your busy with school, he's not a child anymore," she smiled as she folded her hands underneath her chin. "He knows you guys have lives of your own, now that there's some sort of peace."

"Peace," Rowen paused to think of how the last seven years had almost flown by. There had been occasional incident but for the most part things were peaceful. The others had moved on to make lives of their own, but they kept in contact quite regularly and Mia definitely made sure of that. They were really lucky to have her. "Right, I still don't understand why Suzunagi gave us back our armors. It almost seems for nothing."

Mia nodded softly, "I'm sure she was just a lost soul."

"Right," he sighed again as he thought back to meeting the red haired woman. He closed his eyes, and then remembered that she was just child. A clever child, he reminded himself, who recreated the armors in a most dramatic way.

Mia came over to him and patted him on the head, "I'm going to make a cake for everyone, do you want to help?"

He grinned, cooking wasn't really his thing still, "not really... I'll help you clean up though!"

"Figured as much," she smiled as she left the room.

He looked at his book again, and rubbed his eyes. His vision was blurring again, so he just closed his eyes. He heard the chiming of bell and he looked up instantly. He forgot how small she was, with deep red hair and brilliant blue green eyes. She wore a dark kimono with a fur collar, and around her neck was a golden cross adorned in golden bells.

"You must forgive this child."

"Suzunagi..."

"Shush," she whispered quickly and her necklace chimed as he got up. She held onto the necklace tightly, and looked around frightened, "you must not say my name too loud, Strata!"

He came around the table and knelt down in front of her, so he could speak more quietly. "Why have you come back?"

She looked around again, "you're in danger, all of you are."

"We are," he asked and she nodded reluctantly, her red bangs falling into her eyes.

She bit her knuckle nervously, then locked eyes with him and then she looked out the window. She wrapped her arms around him in a hug, then gave him a small kiss on the cheek. She whispered in his ear, "the heart of the armors is awake."

He pulled back from her and he saw tears running from her eyes, "Suzunagi?"

She shook her red haired head sadly, and sobbed, "I'm sorry, I must go now..."

He reached out to her, but she vanished before he could. He looked around and saw a single bell on the floor. He picked it up, and saw Mia looking at him. She had a solemn look on her face, but underneath it he could see concern, "is that her?"

Rowen nodded as he looked at the bell, "she came to warn us."

"Heart of the armors," Mia repeated and paused to think but shook her head. "I haven't read through grandpa's papers in ages."

He stood up and looked at the bell and turned it through his fingers. He looked out the window, he had a bad feeling in his chest as he saw the dark clouds in the distance, "I hope the everyone is alright."