Four was most definitely a crowd.

They had managed to leave Suzaku's land, but the west wasn't much better. Instead of the rough, hardened lava that made up the south's terrain, the west was littered with mountains that reached for the skies, with snow-tipped caps and fog obscuring the very tallest peaks. The air, thankfully, was cool, and occasionally they passed a giant windmill that powered a small restaurant or hostel.

Much to Daisy's delight, they stumbled upon an onsen, and everyone unanimously agreed to stop there for the night.

Daisy sank into the naturally heated waters with a groan of bliss. He dunked his hair beneath the water (to which Kyoya sniffed in disgust; onsen water was shared, and it was bad etiquette to wash one's hair in it), and when he emerged he practically melted into a satisfied puddle.

The older Sasagawa settled beside Kyoya. He wouldn't mind, as long as the boxer was quiet.

Which, in hindsight, was like asking for a miracle, really.

Kyoya's skin began itching again, as it often did when he spent too much time around people. He'd already spent half a week on the road with four others, all of whom were noisy and wouldn't stop talking. He was, frankly, rather sick of it.

"What do you want, Sasagawa?" Kyoya finally asked, interrupting what was until that point a very one-sided conversation from the boxer. The other fighter grinned freely.

"Call me Ryohei! With two of the Sasagawa family here, it'll get confusing if you call us by our last names!" the boxer replied cheerily.

"Ryohei," Kyoya corrected testily. Ryohei did have a point there.

"And you should call Hana and Kyoko by their given names too! And…" Ryohei frowned and glanced at Daisy, who waved a hand negligently.

"My name's just Daisy," the green haired man said. He blinked languidly, like the lizard he sometimes transformed into.

"And we'll call you Kyoya instead!" Ryohei finished.

Kyoya hummed. It was quite early for them to be on first name basis already, but considering Kyoya already knew each of them for several years in his original world (and Daisy only went by one name), it would be fine.

"So!" Ryohei exclaimed, before he lowered his voice. His face grew serious, and he said, quietly, "Is there anything bothering you?"

Kyoya shot him a startled look. He honestly wasn't asked that question often. In his home world, most were usually too scared or intimidated to ask. Here, though, it seemed people were much more open, and much less afraid of him.

Kyoya mulled over the question. There were many things bothering him, but the first that rose to mind was…

"Crowding," he replied. He sank into the water and felt the heat work its way into his muscles, easing sores and pain. "There are too many people around."

Just as people here were more open, perhaps it wouldn't hurt for Kyoya to become a little more open, too.

"You like to work alone?" Ryohei prodded. Daisy slowly floated over and hung off of a small rock. He lazily traced a finger through the water.

"In my world," Kyoya started, surprised with himself in confiding in Ryohei, of all people, "I am the aloof cloud, one that cannot be caught and travels its own path. We work independently from afar, and only return to the group when we are needed."

Daisy snorted. "How are you independent when you're part of a group? That's contradictory."

"That's what you mean by crowding," Ryohei said, insightfully. He scratched his short hair. "I can't say I understand the whole cloud thing, but even if you do prefer working alone, you're still part of a larger organization, right?"

Kyoya hummed. He stared straight ahead, slate grey eyes fixed on the rising steam. It was fine, confiding something like this in his companions. He'd never see them again after this whole debacle was over, after he was returned to his own world. He'd defeat Checker Face and go home, and nobody would remember this conversation except for him.

But a man couldn't be strong all the time. And Kyoya, despite all appearances, was still human. He couldn't just run from this…quest, journey, adventure, whatever he'd gotten himself roped into. But he could also feel his mood souring, plummeting from the company he'd been keeping and the accusations leveled against him.

"You can work alone, and be part of a team too," Daisy said quietly. "The Millefiore is made of strong personalities and individuals, and we mesh as well as oil and water, yet we all unite under Byakuran-sama. We prefer working alone, but we come together when we need to. It's okay to lean on someone else sometimes."

Kyoya flexed his fingers, feeling the tendons in his forearms stretch. "There are too many people."

"Why don't you try scouting ahead?" Ryohei suggested, grinning exuberantly at his plan. "Like a cloud, float wherever you want, as long as you tell us where you're going, and you return! That way, you get your alone time, and we still work as an EXTREME team at the end of the day!"

Kyoya closed his eyes. Not a bad idea.

"And maybe you should apologize to Hana-chan. I think she's still mad at you."

No. That was definitely a bad idea.

XxX

That was still a bad idea, but apparently Kyoya had been filled with bad ideas lately, from accidentally releasing Checker Face to confiding in strangers his troubles.

"I would like to…apologize," he began stiffly. Hana's mouth dropped open, but Kyoko nudged her pointedly and nodded towards Kyoya encouragingly. Suzaku's words echoed in his mind again. You can work alone, yet still be part of a group. "I gave no thought to your conditions during the battle, and I realize I have not been working as part of a team."

He turned his head, but then forced himself to look at the two women directly in the eyes again. Somehow, apologizing was much harder than admitting everything in the privacy of the onsen.

"I will strive to communicate better, in and out of battle from now on," he finished, and he stood there, awaiting judgement. For some reason, something in him hoped for forgiveness from them. He never liked to disappoint others. He was a paragon of strength and ferocity, and when he failed others, he failed himself as well.

Hana's lips twitched, but Kyoko was the one who spoke.

"We accept your apology," she said regally and bowed. "I took your argument to heart as well. I realize that, at the current level I am, I am a mild help at best, and a burden at worst in battle. I have been training in my off time, and when we fight again, I shall be ready." In her eyes shone steel, forged by royalty and tempered by experience, determined and resolved to become stronger. Kyoya felt a small smile stretch his lips, perhaps the first genuine one since coming to this land. Kyoya could see a carnivore in the making, growing into her own skin, evolving to rise to the challenge.

"I also want to apologize for my harsh words," Hana began before muttering beneath her breath, "although they were well deserved." Kyoko coughed loudly, and Hana sighed. "I was only concerned for Kyoko-sama's safety, and took out my worry on you. I get that we were in the heat of battle, and I should know by now that we don't think the clearest when we're fighting. So, sorry."

Hana blushed, but she also met Kyoya's gaze fearlessly. He found unflinching strength in her gaze.

Kyoya bowed as well. Courtesy never hurt anyone. "I also accept your apology. Thank you, Hana, Kyoko."

He turned abruptly and began walking down the path. Further ahead, Daisy and Ryohei were talking amiably (rather, Ryohei was shouting enthusiastically and Daisy was looking a bit dazed) to give the three a bit of privacy.

"Did he just call us by our given names?" he heard Kyoko ask bemusedly.

"Did he just call you without an honorific?!" Hana hissed back, back to her default enraged setting. "Show some respect to the princess, you heathen," she roared.

Kyoya leapt up onto a tree and began treading his away across the branches, parallel to the trail. Unbidden, the smile stretched, and Kyoya hummed to himself good-naturedly.

XxX

"Er," Daisy said, looking up at the giant metal monstrosity before them. The structure reminded Kyoya greatly of a large factory, set into the side of a mountain. From its top, white steam periodically spewed forth, and gears all along its outside walls whirred and whistled unceasingly. "This is Byakko-sama's shrine?"

"This EXTREMELY is!" Ryohei replied, not at all put off by the strange appearance of the huge building. "Just inside here. Although it's EXTREMELY strange that none of the metalworkers are here!"

"Metalworkers?" Kyoko asked.

"The protectors of the western shrine," Daisy explained, gazing up at the huge metal building with amazement. "They're renowned for their mastery over machinery. This area provides them with ample rare ores to work with, and the windmills help power their work." He shuddered slightly. "All this cold metal is creepy, though."

A cool wind whipped around them gently. From deep inside the building, they could hear gentle whirring and clanking, a large, metal beast purring away as it worked.

"Let's go," Kyoya said, already starting to make his way into the factory.

"I think some of us should wait here, in case we come across a metalworker." Kyoko glanced between her companions. "We'll need one to get into the White Tiger's shrine."

"Should we split up?" Hana asked. "It'll be harder for us to meet up later."

"We split up," Kyoya finally said, after a moment's deliberation. He swept his eyes over them, assessing. Daisy would be more effective with using his East Crystal outside, where he could access his plants freely. Kyoko and Hana would want to stay in the same group. Ryohei wouldn't be happy about leaving his sister alone.

Kyoya's skin began crawling, and he closed his eyes. Perhaps…

"I will head alone into the shrine," he intoned finally. He just wanted to be alone for a while, and honestly, their company was getting exhausting.

"Do you really think that's a good idea?" Hana raised a judgmental eyebrow. "You're clearly capable in battle, but I don't trust you to do something foolish by yourself. You'll be fine?" Hana asked skeptically, but behind her Ryohei gave Kyoya a wide, encouraging grin.

"Who do you think you're talking to?" Kyoya replied snootily, before he turned and set out into the building.

The moment he set foot inside, he was surrounded by stillness. Nothing moved, nothing made a noise. The gentle whirring of machinery that he'd heard outside was cut off. Up ahead, he spied a small panel on the floor, what looked like a button or a switch.

He stepped on it, and all of a sudden, everything came to life. The walls abruptly lit up, blinking lights of all colors and beeping at different tones. With a rumble and tremor, floor tiles began shifting, moving smoothly up and down, left and right in a dizzying manner. This building was clearly designed to confuse intruders. Too bad they hadn't planned for Kyoya.

Kyoya launched himself onto a rising tile and then started leaped from tile to tile, across large chasms people normally wouldn't have been able to cross. He bypassed many of the floor puzzles with ease, dodging strange traps and barreling through thin metal walls. For the average herbivore, perhaps the building would truly have been a deterrent for anyone trying to venture further. For Kyoya, everything was a mere annoyance at worst.

Finally, after practically crumpling a metal doorway with his tonfa, he sauntered into a large cavern, satisfied and sated from the reassuring solitude. All he needed now was a good fight.

Up ahead of him, a sheer, reflective metal surface shined, and from it a blinding white seal glowed. Kyoya's lips curled. Undoubtedly, with the other herbivores tagging along, the whole trip would have taken at least twice the time.

Kyoya walked towards the seal, palm outstretched. The surface of the wall was cold, sapping away the heat of his palm, and wind blew through several of the windows on the other sides of the large room. Kyoya could see blue sky and the occasional bird fly by.

He wondered how Hibird was doing. Hopefully Tetsuya was taking care of it.

Distantly, he heard something scraping against metal, the shrill screech of Oni that rattled in the metal chamber. Kyoya smirked, and his tonfa fell into his hands.

"Let's dance," he murmured with wicked glee, turning to find himself surrounded on all sides by Oni.

At first glance, all Kyoya could pick out was the typical writhing mass of bodies and checkered masks. However, occasionally he found the slick sharp glint of metal tipped claws, or a whole body covered in metallic hide.

It seemed that they had evolved. Which was fine with Kyoya, really.

He bared his teeth, firmed his ground, and then darted right into the throng of the fight.

Silver claws whistled through the air, and paws scrabbled on the ground. One particular Oni even dented part of a wall with its iron plated tail and roared. Kyoya whirled and kicked, a hurricane in human form, with the battle song in his heart.

It was here, in the clarity and haze of battle, when Kyoya finally settled into his skin for the first time since arriving in Nippon. He had a team that he could work with, but he could also fight independently, solve his own problems and pick his own fights. He could take charge, command a whole group, but that didn't chain him to them. He could wander, free as a bird, returning when he was needed or when he wanted. He was the strongest guardian, and working either alone or with others didn't change his character, nor did it change his role.

A true Cloud.

Kyoya flew through the Oni, and behind him he lay a wake of destruction. Distantly, he heard strange clanking, much more bulky than the smooth machinery he'd been listening to for the past hour.

Suddenly, there was a loud crash, and something large and grey burst through the doorway. It swung a mighty, robotic arm and swept the enemies off their feet. It aimed its other hand at them, and out burst a blast of wind, sharp enough to tear the masks from the Oni's faces. They dissolved into particles in the air.

Together, Kyoya and the mysterious arrival made short work of them.

Kyoya warily stood in front of the giant machine. It seemed distantly familiar.

Ah. Yes. He'd beaten something that looked just like the robot in front of him once into a pile of junk metal. What was it called again? Gollum Mustard?

The sound of echoing footsteps drew Kyoya's attention back towards the doorway. In it stood a tall man with blond hair that swirled into a strange whirlpool pattern on the side of his head. He clacked the lollipop in his mouth.

"Pretty impressive," he said, glancing at his machine. "Not many can go toe to toe with my Mosca."

Kyoya straightened. "Are you a metalworking herbivore?"

"Metalworking herbivore?" the man asked, taken aback, before shaking his head. "Who's asking?" the man asked insolently. He strode over to his machine and began inspecting it for damage.

Kyoya breathed in deeply. Patience. Think about how much Hana would screech if she found out he'd bitten a metalworker to death.

See? He was learning.

"I need to see the White Tiger," he said slowly. The man stiffened, hands stilling against one of the Mosca's large fingers. He turned, sharp green eyes meeting Kyoya's slate grey.

"And why do you need to see Byakko-sama?" he asked quietly, deceptively calmly. The Mosca began to whir to life again.

Kyoya tilted his head at the nonthreat. He'd torn apart a Mosca before. He could do it again.

"My name is Hibari Kyoya," he introduced. Hana would be proud at the amount of diplomacy he was showing, seriously. "And I am the Chosen One. I seek the White Tiger's aid in defeating Checker Face."

The man glanced around the room, taking in the aftermath of the battle. Deep scratches and dents marred almost every surface.

"The Oni have been getting even more unruly lately." He popped out another lollipop and clacked it against his teeth. "I suppose you're why. They've even started adapting to the terrain. Checker Face is getting stronger."

He scratched his head with a leather glove and propped the other hand against his green jumpsuit-clad hip.

"Alright. Did you come alone?"

Kyoya shook his head. "The rest of the party is at the entrance."

"I'll send Shoichi to get them, then," the mechanic murmured. He held out a hand. "My name's Spanner."

Kyoya stared down at the herbivore's hand. He took it slowly. Spanner grinned widely.

XxX

"What h-happened in here?!" The screech tore through what had been a peaceful and amiable silence between Kyoya and Spanner.

Kyoya blinked a lazy eye open to find everyone starting to file into the room. At the front, a man dressed in flannel and glasses perched on his nose scrubbed his hand through his hair.

"Ah, there was a battle," Spanner replied unapologetically, still plopped in front of the Mosca and making small adjustments to something Kyoya had no interest in.

"And it was strong enough to scratch and dent the steel floor?!" the screeching herbivore asked, before clutching his stomach and paling. "Ugh…"

"Half of the damage is probably Hibari's fault," Hana said, a small smile ticking up her mouth, and she held out a hand. Kyoya considered it for a moment before taking it and tugging himself upright from where he'd been napping in a particularly warm spot of sun. "I see you didn't make a complete fool out of yourself."

Kyoya only gave a noncommittal 'hn' before tilting his head towards Spanner and completely ignoring the unfamiliar face. If there was anything Kyoya despised more than crowding herbivores, it was loud herbivores.

"Ah, Shoichi, I gather you've heard the whole sordid tale from your friends?" Spanner asked, already taking up position on one side of the room.

The engineering herbivore sighed. "Yeah. The whole thing's enough to make me nervous enough to vomit." He stood opposite of Spanner. "Think we'll need Giannini?"

Spanner snorted. "That lazy guy? Nah, we don't need him. Let's get this show on the road."

The metalworkers closed their eyes, and the ambient whirring died down. As they began chanting, and the white symbol started flaring bright, Daisy sidled up to Kyoya.

"I can't help but notice that most of the blockades to this room were completely smashed through, like a giant bull had gone on a rampage." Daisy shot him a look through his lank hair. "I think the purpose of the puzzles were to solve them, not to annihilate them."

"Too long," Kyoya replied shortly, deadpan. On his other side, Hana didn't seem to know whether to laugh or facepalm.

"Your method EXTREMELY worked!" Ryohei whisper shouted.

"Hair brained monkeys," Hana scoffed, rolling her eyes, and Kyoko giggled helplessly into her hand.

With a final pulse of incandescent light, the seal shattered, and sparkles of white rained down on them. Spanner dusted off his hands. "Shoichi and I'll be waiting outside."

Daisy shuffled his feet and scowled at the metal floor. "I'll come with you. All this metal makes me uncomfortable."

"Oh? Where are you from?" Shoichi asked politely, and their voices faded as they left the large room.

Ryohei glanced at Kyoya and the two women. "You guys have been doing the shrine visiting together, right?" With a cheeky wink, Ryohei also turned heel and bounced out of the room. "Wouldn't want to EXTREMELY ruin a sacred tradition!"

"What tradition?" Hana screamed after him. "With this guy?" She rudely jabbed a thumb at Kyoya, who only looked on, unmiffed.

"Well, it is kind of nice doing this with just the three of us." Kyoko smiled shyly at Kyoya and Hana. "Together until the end, right?"

Something in Kyoya melted just a little, and he grunted and started making his way into the metal hallway. Behind him, he heard the women jogging to catch up with his long strides. They chattered a bit, at ease with each other. Kyoya missed Tetsuya, just a bit, but he supposed that the two women were adequate replacements.

Byakko's shrine was no less outstanding than Seiryuu's or Suzaku's, although in a much colder, more impersonal way. The shrine was made completely of gleaming silver, inlaid with gold and black accents cut harshly into the metal. The shrine itself was a smooth sheet of reflective silver, almost like a mirror, and carved into the silver surface was a pitch black tiger. Its black stripes seemed to move with every flicker of light, and its silver eyes glowed at Kyoya.

"Go ahead," Kyoko nudged gently, and Kyoya nodded. He strode forward and laid his palm against the tiger's flank.

Abruptly, the ground began to tremble, and thunder roared around him. Kyoko and Hana vanished into a whirlwind of shrapnel, travelling fast enough to shred flesh. White and silver coalesced in the middle of the air, and with a deafening roar, a white blur fell from the ceiling and landed with a shudder in front of Kyoya.

Byakko was large, with heaving sides and muscles rippling beneath its white and black fur. Blue eyes glowed from its face, and foxfire whirled around his paws and shoulders. Its maw opened, revealing razor sharp teeth and fangs the length of Kyoya's arm. It stepped forward with one large paw.

Welcome, Chosen One, to my abode. Its voice thundered, a deep and rumbling growl that vibrated through Kyoya's bones. I am the White Tiger of the West, Byakko. You have come to my shrine for my power and blessing.

Kyoya inclined his head respectfully, but he didn't back down. One carnivore to another, in neutral territory. "I am Hibari Kyoya," he announced clearly.

As my brethren have told me. Seiryuu told me of a determined young man come to it for help, and Suzaku spoke of a troubled one. Yet here, in front of me, I see a man who has grown and matured, in mind and body both. You know your place in the world, no longer blinded by your own pride. I believe that you have what it takes to restore this land.

Kyoya held out his hands as something shimmered into existence. It fell into his palm, cold and sharp enough to cut glass, a small intricately designed crystal with interlocking parts and miniscule bolts. Wind seemed to sweep throughout Kyoya's being, and he could see in his mind's eye the towering peaks of the mountains, the ores contained deep beneath them, the labor it took to mine them out and then melt them in the belly of the factory. The sheets and screws that were forged from the ore, the machinery that grew from callused hands.

I think you will accomplish great things, in both this land and your own when you return. Byakko lowered its head, and its whiskers brushed the floor. Only one of my protectors, the metalworkers of this place, can wield the West Crystal. Your final destination is to the north, in the glaciers and ice caverns of the Black Tortoise of the North. I wish you well on your journey.

"Wait." Kyoya clenched the West Crystal in his hand. "I will be going home, after this?"

Byakko blinked in surprise. Did you expect to stay in this land until your dying day?

Kyoya had known, distantly, that he'd return home. He just hadn't lent much thought to when or how. After he defeated Checker Face? After the land had been restored to its former glory? In five years, ten years? Would he return to a world grown older, Tetsuya having moved on from his high school committee, the baby boss having turned into a carnivore in his own right?

Ah, you doubt again, but this time, not in yourself. You miss your home. Byakko sighed, and it laid on its stomach, paws sprawled regally to its side. It yawned. Do not concern yourself with this. When all is as it should be, you will know how, and when the time is right. For now, I advise you to concern yourself with the truth of this world.

"The truth?"

You will see soon, Chosen One. I give my power, now make haste to Genbu's domain.

With another roar, Byakko pounced into the air and disappeared mid-leap. The whirlwind of shrapnel also began to abate, and Kyoya found himself, once again, clutching the West Crystal and standing in front of an inert shrine.

What did Byakko mean, he would know how and when to go home? And what was the truth of this world?

"Did you get Byakko-sama's power?" Kyoko asked, breaking the silence.

Kyoya held out the metallic crystal wordlessly, handing it over to the princess before stalking away, mind whirling.

Was there more to this land, this whole adventure, than defeating Checker Face? He scowled, and curiosity tugged at him like a child tugged at the frayed thread of a scarf. Apparently, Kyoya could accomplish the first Chosen One, the baby boss, could not, and there was some truth buried deep within this whole thing.

He would have to investigate.

"What's up with you?" Hana asked. "You're unusually quiet, which is saying something since you say probably ten words on a good day."

Kyoya narrowed his eyes. "I have prey to catch."

When they finally made it outside the factory, past the busted open puzzle doors and over the shifting floor tiles, Kyoya was greeted by Spanner hovering over Daisy, eyes wide with an unholy maniacal gleam.

"The Millefiore are some of the most advanced magicians in Nippon!" Spanner said excitedly, and he clacked at his lollipop. "I have always held a fascination for magic!"

The redheaded herbivore had a resigned hand over his face. "Spanner, please calm down."

"Magic," Spanner insisted. "Show me something!"

Daisy, with a slightly concussed look, turned his hands into green claws. Beneath his feet, vines started sprouting and unceremoniously hauled Spanner's overbearing presence away from him.

"Amazing!"

"I admire your EXTREME enthusiasm! Although this is not magic of my own, but rather granted to me by Suzaku-sama, I can also wield magic!" Ryohei pumped his fists, which burst into red and blue flames.

"Oh dear kami," Hana whispered. Kyoya was sorely tempted to just leave everyone right there and continue on his own. As if reading his thoughts, Hana hissed, "Don't you dare. If I have to put up with this circus, so do you."

Kyoya sighed. Kyoko cleared her throat delicately and raised the West Crystal above her head. Like a magnet, Shoichi and Spanner swiveled their heads towards her, eyes fixed on the crystal.

"You got it!" the screeching herbivore said in delight.

"Magic," Spanner enthused. He narrowed his eyes. "I want to try it."

Daisy gave a relieved sigh with the engineer's attention off of him and sidled further away from them.

Kyoko smiled indulgently at Spanner and handed over the crystal. The blond began inspecting it, turning it over and rubbing along the edges with a finger. After a moment, he sighed. "I can't feel anything from it."

"Maybe you're not the right person?" Kyoko suggested. Spanner spun to look accusingly at Shoichi and thrust his hand out.

"You try," he said challengingly. Shoichi eyed the crystal with no small amount of trepidation.

"I'd r-rather not," he stuttered. "Adventure isn't my thing."

"You don't know until you try it!" Spanner insisted and pushed the crystal into the screeching herbivore's hands.

"I really don't want – eek!" The metallic crystal began glowing, and the ground beneath them rumbled. He flinched when the first sheet of metallic ore flew at him, shaping itself into a chest plate. All around them, the ground shook, and metals of all colors flew at him, shaping themselves into intricate screws and plates until the herbivore was covered from head to toe in armor.

"So cool," Spanner breathed enviously.

The large armored robot turned accusingly at Spanner. "This is awful, not even a little bit cool!" The herbivore raised a giant hand and pointed accusingly at Spanner. "I'm not even a fighter, and now I've been transformed into a giant fighting robot!"

Ryohei clapped the robot on the…hip and exclaimed, "I'm sure you'll get the hang of it in no time! We'll have EXTREME training sessions!"

A whimper was emitted from the armor.

"Take me with you!" Spanner demanded, scowling and clacking his lollipop against his teeth in irritation. "I want to see magic."

Kyoya grudgingly began thinking of the squealing herbivore as Shoichi (and it really, truly pained him to do so…even the baby boss had more backbone than the engineer) and looked towards the north.

One more to go.

XxX

A/N: Thank you for reading! Feel free to leave a comment on your way out!

Sincerely,

haplesshippo