Yes, I finally managed to get this chapter written up. I'm really struggling to find time to write at the moment. If work isn't hectic then general life is, so please bear with me a little longer. The last few weeks have been rather bad ones for me, I'm afraid - too many things happening around me.

Just thought I'd address something LeafgreenShippyXD said on their review for Harmony of White Roses. Yes, I have gone into marketing and despite there being plenty of writing opportunities for me, I have decided to go back to University to complete a Masters in Creative Writing because I miss writing so much. So here's hoping I get a place on the course so I can go there either in January or September 2014 :)

Also, big welcome back to ninetailsgirl94 – You have been missed!

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my OCs and plot.

Chapter Three

"Start from the top," Kiboji said, rubbing his temples as a headache throbbed through his brain. He sent a glare at Silver then turned to do the same to Kenny, who was sat on Silver's right hand side. Kenny sheepishly peered at the ever increasingly annoyed Silver who seemed to be fighting the urge to jump on Kiboji and skewer him with a sword. Thankfully, Suzume had confiscated all weapons from the throne room just in case anything like this happened. The brunette was now peaceably pouring a fresh cup of tea for her husband while Misty passed the other cups around. Drew was sat between the girls and the guys, looking rather bored at the situation. What he would do for a nap right now.

He seemed to perk up when Misty passed him a fresh mug of tea.

"Thanks," he muttered.

"So why do we need these feathers again?" Kiboji asked. Kenny let out a loud sigh and was just about to reply when Silver got in there before him.

"I think you need to rest a while," Silver said coldly. "Why don't you go and curl up to your precious tom-boy and sleep for a while."

Misty's head snapped in the direction of Silver as she went bright red. Before she or Kiboji could move a muscle and deny that there was anything going on between them, Suzume launched the kettle full of hot water at Silver's head. The red head hissed, leapt to his feet and launched a full on verbal attack on his wife.

"Well, this is going well," Drew mused as Suzume unleashed a verbal thrashing of her own.

"Don't get me started," Kenny said. He leant forwards and began shuffling his papers full of notes and scribbles. "What it boils right down to are the two Legendaries – Ho-ho and Lugia. The feathers will coax them out of their hiding places."

"What I'm confused about is how this will help us," Kiboji muttered. "I don't think two Legendaries will help us that much."

"It's not so much as using the Legendaries to fight with us," Kenny replied. "Legend says that those two Legendaries are the keepers of the Akari and Kurai. They are opposites just like the two clans. By bringing them together-"

"Yeah, yeah," Kiboji said irritably. "I know – Bring two opposites together and you create balance and harmony. Like Shinji and Dawn did when they took down Kuro. I get it."

"It's a great theory," Misty said. "But I don't know how it will help."

"Other than uniting all the clans under one banner, I can't say I'm sold," Kiboji said. "We're already united against a foe and all that is happening is that we're both getting our asses kicked."

"Two for one," Drew added. The green head turned to check that Silver was trying to kill Suzume. The pair were still yelling at each other loudly but had this been the first time the couple had argued, the others would be getting worried. Eventually, Suzume would calm Silver down and Silver would see reason again but it seemed to be getting more hostile between the two with every passing argument. When Drew turned back to the Akari leader, he found that Misty had settled herself on the arm of Kiboji's throne. She was looking at him worriedly – and not just because he appeared to be in deep thought.

"I think we should take a break," Drew said as he got to his feet. He stumbled slightly as needles pricked the sole of his left foot painfully. "Get some rest and recharge."

"Sounds like a great idea," Misty agreed.

"Yeah," came the moody voice of Silver. The pair seemed to have abandoned their argument at the suggestion of a rest. Silver rubbed his eyes while Suzume stretched out, carelessly hitting Silver in the cheek with her hand.

"Fine," Kiboji agreed. He got out of his chair and hurried to the back entrance of the throne room. "Meet back here at dinner."

And then he disappeared through the dark archway at the back of the room. No body asked where he was going or even said anything to say they would be there at dinner. Silver turned on his heel and walked out of the throne room via the large main doors, Suzume following him without a word.

Drew lingered for a moment, giving Misty a small smile.

"Dare I ask why you've become Kiboji's personal nurse?" he asked. Kenny gave a snort as he gathered all of his papers into his arms. He didn't notice that Misty was giving him a murderous look as he was too engrossed in an un-co-operative piece of paper that refused to let him pick it up. While he fumbled with the same piece of paper, Drew started towards Misty. "I have no idea why you want to become the head of the Akari, Mist."

"It's not like that," Misty snapped, flushing pink.

"I always thought you had a thing for Ash," Drew said.

"Years ago, yeah sure," Misty replied. "But he was so wrapped up in the League. Now he's wrapped up in training to be 'the best ninja ever'."

To add emphasis to this, she used her fingers to quote what Ash had said repeatedly to anyone who listened. Drew let out a soft chuckle.

"It's nice to feel wanted, that's all," Misty said. "It's nice to feel needed and be thanked for lending a hand."

"Sure," Drew agreed, nodding in agreement. "But the Akari are not the family you should rush into joining."

"They're alright," Kenny butted in. He was now on his feet with all his papers tucked underneath his armpit. "And Kiboji's pretty normal. I think that if Misty likes him, she should go for it. I know first hand what it's like to keep silent and lose someone because I wasn't brave enough to speak up."

"And we've all seen what happens to Akari warriors," Drew added, glancing towards the dark archway at the back of the room. "And their wives."

"But Kiboji's different," Kenny said, ignoring what Drew was hinting at for all of them knew where Kiboji had disappeared off to. "He's not Itsuki and he is definitely not Paul."

"But he's part Arashi," Misty said. "He talks about his father quite a lot. I think he wishes there was someone there to guide him but he has no one. His uncles are gone and so is Akiko. Reggie tries to help, we all do, but it's not the same."

"And what's worse, he's lost two of the closest people he knew," Drew said.

There was a pause while the three of them thought about the couple they had lost. Eventually, though, Kenny gave a sniff and started towards the door so he could return to his room and do some more research.

"Don't be late for food this time!" Drew called.

"Yeah, yeah," Kenny replied nonchalantly as he disappeared round the corner. Drew let out a sigh, knowing full well that he would be chasing after the bookworm in a few hours. He turned back to Misty.

"So, see you at dinner?" he said.

"Yeah," Misty replied with a nod. She fidgeted on the spot then looked at her wrist where a sports style watch was buckled. "I've got to go teach a class any way. I'll see you later."

"Right," Drew mumbled as Misty walked past him. He placed a hand on his hip and stared towards the archway where Kiboji had disappeared through. Very few people had access to the chamber beyond, Drew could count them on his hand and still have two fingers spare. There wasn't a doubt in his mind that if Dawn remembered a little tiny bit then all of them would be by her side all day, every day but without any inkling as to what happened, no one wanted to be around her. Kiboji tried to break through to her but he never did. Reggie played her nurse maid while Hajime, her faithful protector as he promised Akiko before her death, would just talk to her as if all was right in the world.

Slowly, Drew turned and left the silent throne room wondering where the best place would be for him to catch a nap before dinner.

~O~

Dawn opened her eyes when she heard the familiar scrape of the door opening. She had been dreaming or she thought she had but in the time between her dream ending and her opening her eyes, all recollection of a dream vanished. Her fingers closed tightly round the small diamond in her hand. She gasped, sitting up and shoving it under her pillow before Kiboji entered.

He walked into the room mere seconds later just as she placed her hand back on her lap like she was waiting for him.

"Hello," she greeted. "You look tired."

"I am," he replied groggily as he sat down in a wicker chair opposite her. He let out a loud yawn, closing his eyes and covering his mouth with one hand.

While Kiboji yawned, Dawn glanced at her pillow. The diamond was calling out to her even though she couldn't see it. She forgot that Kiboji was sat across from her, just staring at the pillow until Kiboji spoke again.

"So how are you feeling?" he asked. Dawn jolted back to facing him.

"Good," she replied quickly. "And you? Is the fighting going OK? Are you winning yet?"

Kiboji let out a groan at her airy tone. It was like the tone someone used when talking to a sports fan about their favourite team even if they had no idea what they were talking about.

"No we're not winning, Dawn," he replied.

"I'm sure you'll get there in the end though," she said, smiling at him.

"It's not that simple you know," Kiboji moaned.

"Can't you just, you know?" Dawn suggested. "I mean if I were you, I'd send out –"

She paused here, wondering where the sentence was going to. She tried to ignore the curious way Kiboji was looking at her as she wracked her brain to try and remember what she was saying until she turned to look at the pillow again. The diamond was under there still. She wasn't holding it. She felt lost without it.

"Dawn?" Kiboji prompted. She jolted again, turning to smile at him.

"Sorry, I forgot what I was saying," she replied apologetically.

"Never mind then," Kiboji mumbled. "Just forget it."

"OK," she said. "But you do look tired. Maybe you should go and have a nap."

Kiboji stared at her for a second but decided that he couldn't put up with her today. He got out of his chair slowly, never once taking his eyes off of her.

"You're right," he muttered. "I'm going."

"Bye," Dawn said cheerfully as he stumbled out of her room without another word.

As soon as she was sure he was gone, once she heard the door close, she dived for the pillow so she could reach the diamond. She stroked it as she stared into it greedily.

"There's something about this diamond," she said to herself. "Something familiar. If I could just work out what…"

Suddenly she threw the diamond down on the mattress, annoyed at it. She flopped down on her back beside it, resting one arm on her forehead as she stared up at the canopy of her bed. There was something right there, in the front of her head and on the tip of her tongue but for the life of her, she just didn't know what it was. It made her angry to think she was missing something, something really important, but she didn't want to smash the diamond. It was her only clue.

Yes, she thought as she stared at it once again, it was a clue. She just didn't know what for yet.

Slowly, her eyes started to droop and she felt her mind slip away back into the dream state that seemed to be her only relief.

"Dawn… Dawn… Dawn…"

She opened her eyes slowly.

"I'm here, Paul," she muttered even if she hardly realised she had said anything before she turned over and slipped into the realms of unconsciousness.

Another slow chapter but I have this all planned out so it should be picking up soon :)

Please review!

RSx