Chapter 4

"Thanks," Crystal said as she handed convenience store clerk money for the groceries she was buying.

"Have a nice day," the clerk said as he handed Crystal her change and finished bagging her groceries. "Come again."

"Thanks," Crystal repeated and with a quick smile headed out of the store and towards her home. A quick glance at her watch told her that she was running late. She sighed as she shook her head and set down her backpack and opened it to put away the bags of groceries. Once she was done, she reached into her pocket and took out her phone and flipped to Rafael's number to call him and let him know that she was running late. Suddenly Crystal felt someone run smack into her shoulder, knocking her phone out of her hand. Acting fast, Crystal was able to catch herself as well as catch a quick glimpse of whoever had run into her. From the back, the person looked a little like her, and also had her hair in a pony tail. However before Crystal could get a good look at whoever it was that had bumped into her, the person speedily bolted down a nearby alley.

Crystal stood still for a few seconds, unsure of what to make of the situation. For a moment she almost thought she had imagined the whole situation. She shook her head again as she brushed herself off, but her look quickly turned to anger at what she saw next. On the ground near her feet was her phone, and a few inches away was the battery. She picked both items up and her anger continued to grow when she saw the screen on her phone, which now had a large crack down the middle of it and several large black blotches from the spilled liquid crystal. Shoving her now destroyed phone into her pocket, she turned to take off after whoever had run into her.

"HEY! STOP!"

Crystal turned her head and within a few seconds was surrounded by cops. Police cars with their sirens flashing and blaring pulled right up to the curb next to her.

"What-" Crystal began but was cut off by who seemed to be the lead officer. She let go of her bag and slowly brought her hands up when she saw several other police officers had also moved into position.

"Thought you could get away huh?" The cop said as he roughly grabbed her and put hand cuffs on her wrists.

"What's going on?" Crystal asked, finally finding her voice.

"Don't pretend," the cop responded in an angry voice. Another cop came over and helped him lead her to one of the police cars and put her in the back seat, where a third cop was waiting to read her rights to her.

"You have the right to remain silent," third cop began. Crystal tuned him out as she tried to figure out the situation. Maybe it had something to do with whoever had bumped into her. One thing was for sure, she was going to find whoever it was and get to the bottom of what was going on.

Once at the police station, Crystal remained quiet, even though she knew that she innocent. She got her fingerprints taken and after filling out some paperwork, she was taken into another room for questioning.

"So, Crystal Miroshi, what's your plea?" The detective asked her after he had sit down across from her and glanced at her paperwork.

"I didn't do it," Crystal grumbled.

"None of them ever do," the detective replied slyly. A moment later one of the secretaries walked in with a cup of coffee and set it down next to him. "Thanks," the detective said with a smile to his secretary before turning his attention back to Crystal. "Coffee?" He asked her before smiling again and taking a sip. "Now do you want to tell me what's going on?" He asked her after swallowing the drink and taking another one.

"I was walking home and someone bumped into me," Crystal said, trying to control the anger in her voice. "The next thing I knew I was surrounded by cops."

"So you claim," the detective continued, placing unnecessary emphasis on the word "claim," and scribbling down some notes in the process. "That you were never at the department store on eighth?"

"Why would I be all the way over there?" Crystal said, still attempting to control the anger in her voice. "Besides what'd they say was stolen anyway?"

"I'll ask the questions," the detective snapped. He glared at her, but she wasn't going to back down. "I'd suggest you cooperate," he continued. "You seem like a good kid."
"You got no idea," Crystal mumbled under her breath so she was the only one that heard it.

"So you don't want to mess your whole entire life up do you?" The detective continued. "So how about you tell us what happened and we can all move on."

"I didn't do it," Crystal replied in a similar tone to as before.

"Then I guess we don't have any options," the detective said with a sigh. A moment later another officer walked in and whispered something into the detective's ear. His eyes flashed as he took in what the other cop said. Crystal strained to listen but couldn't hear anything. "How do you..." his voice trailed off. "All right, ok..." The detective looked back at Crystal, who met his eyes with the same icy stare she had the entire time. "They didn't find what was missing in your bag, and what you're wearing doesn't match the convenience store video, so I guess that's it."

"I wonder why," Crystal muttered again to herself. The detective led her out of the room and into the lobby where she sat down across from the secretary's desk.

"We'll give your father a call and tell him to come pick you up," the detective said as he reached over to dial.

"Why, can't waste your own gas?" Crystal said to no one in particular.

After some more waiting, Christian arrived and signed Crystal out. The ride home was a silent one and before long they pulled up to Christian's house. Crystal was still fuming so she slammed the door and when she got inside threw her bag against the wall.

"Hey," Cody said with a faint smile when she got inside. She looked over at him and her look softened for a second as she returned the gesture before sitting down on the couch.

"What happened?" Zack asked when he got over. Crystal ignored him though.

A second later, Christian also walked over. "So what happened?" He said, echoing Zack's question. "I got the overview from the police, so what exactly's going on?" Rafael, Ryan and Alan, the Hiroshimas, Mike, and Aaron were also interested to find out what had happened.

Crystal glanced around the room at all the eyes looking at her. Her eyes fell on her father and brother, followed by Cody, then the rest of them. After going through everything at the police station however, she wasn't in the mood to tell the story again, especially with Mike listening. "Don't worry about it," Crystal said finally. Next she looked at Christian. "I'll tell you later," she said in a disgusted voice.

"No, now," Christian said in a fatherly tone, surprising her.

"Do I have to?"

"Yes."

Crystal groaned. "Fine," she said. Next she proceeded to tell the whole story from where whoever it was had bumped into her, destroying her phone, to the whole ordeal at the police station.

"So your phone's completely busted?" Zack asked, drawing some looks and rolled eyes.

"Yea," Crystal said sarcastically. She pulled out the phone and showed them. "So with any luck, that's the worst that'll happen."

"You just got that phone," Aaron said. Although he couldn't see the phone, he could tell it was beyond repair by the sounds of everyone around him.

"Duh," Crystal said. "That's what's got me more pissed off than anything."

"Anyway," Julius said, trying to get everyone's attention back to the original reason for the meeting. He turned to Crystal. "Rafael said he found something really powerful, but we wanted to wait for you."

"Yea?" Crystal asked, her mood perking up. "Also it's great seeing you again Rafael. How was Japan?"

"Very nice," Rafael said. "Anyway, as I began explaining to them earlier, one of the shrines I visited I believe holds the key to a very powerful item that would be very beneficial in our battle against Wingz Corp."

"Yea?" Crystal repeated. Everyone else's attention also turned back to Rafael.

"As I said earlier," Rafael said. "I wrote down the encryptions," he pulled out a piece of paper. "They're written in an older form of Japanese so this may take a few minutes."

"Take your time," Julius said.

Rafael cleared his throat and read.

"Of all the ages, it was foreseen and told.

He who holds the key to passage through past, present and future.

To hold the power to see is to hold the power to change.

As of his will shall all rearrange.

The fate of time, the fate of man.

It is so in his hands, the fate of all shall stand."

"Come again?" Zack asked, obviously lost. Patrick and Noah held similar looks as did Ryan and Alan.

"Essentially," Rafael continued. "I believe it describes a mythical item known as the "Stone of Time."

"Stone of Time?" Rumiku repeated unsure.

"According to legend," Rafael said. "Long ago there was an Elemental who controlled time."

"So he could travel to whenever he wanted?" Mike asked, who had until this time remained quiet.

"It was so peaceful before," Rikku said with a roll of her eyes. "Why couldn't it stay that way/"

Mike looked at her. "What?"

"Oh, I think you know what I mean," Rikku said.

"Obviously I don't," Mike said rounding on her.

"Ok, will you two put it aside?" Christian said rubbing his head.

"All they ever do is fight," Aaron muttered.

"Well he can't help himself," Rikku said. "His ego is so big he would die of shock if he ever shut up."

"You're one to talk," Mike retorted.

"OK! THAT'S ENOUGH!" Julius said, stepping between them. "Anyway, please continue Rafael."

"Not yet," Rafael said. "First you two," he pointed to Mike and Rikku. "Outside until you can work out whatever it is between you."

"You mean the fact that I'm alive?" Mike said, getting a look.

"That's exactly it!" Rikku said. "Wait, am I still here? With him being right about something, I thought the world was just about to end."

"What's your problem?" Mike snapped.

"YOU!" Rikku retorted.

"OK! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!" Julius said. "I agree with Rafael, you two OUTSIDE!"

"You can't be serious," Rikku said. She groaned as her eyes flashed from Mike to her brother and back.

"Watch me," Julius returned with a smirk. With Rafael and Christian's help, they shoved Mike and Rikku outside and locked the door behind them.

Rikku growled as she attempted to open the door to no avail. She banged on it a few times, but no one answered. "You..." she glared at Mike.

"Don't blame me," Mike snapped. "But I don't think I'm going to be out here much longer." He smiled as his eyes began to glow blue and his body glowed white. A second later, he disappeared. However, he reappeared in the same spot another second later. "What the hell? Why can't I teleport in?"

Rikku rolled her eyes. "They probably put up a barrier for that very reason, so now I'm stuck out here with you."

"Your sister doesn't mind when that happens," Mike replied with a smirk. Another look from Rikku however caused it to melt away. With that, he began to walk away.

"Where do you think you're going?" Rikku said as she jogged to catch up to him.

"The store," Mike replied. "I'm gonna grab a Mountain Dew."

"No you aren't," Rikku said. "I'm not sitting out here all by myself."

"Have fun," Mike replied with a smile as he continued to walk towards a nearby 7 Eleven.

"I hate you!" Rikku yelled.

"I know," Mike replied without turning around. "But the way I look at it, you can sit there hating me or hate me while walking and talking so we can at least convince Julius that we worked something out. So what's it going to be?"

Rikku remained silent as she got up and followed him.

-----
"So you think they're going to calm down?" Cody asked with a sigh.

"You can't be serious Codes," Zack replied. "Those two?"

"So does that mean you're giving up on Rikku, Martin?" Ryan asked. "Good move."

"Not a chance Cooper," Zack retorted.

"Well until he brings his ego down some," Crystal said. "I don't think they're ever going to get along. But knowing Rikku....um sorry Cody I'm going to have to go with Zack on this one." Cody nodded as he sighed again.

"Guess you're right," Cody said.

"I think they both could grow up some though," Alan said. "I haven't known him that long, but I do know Rikku pretty well, and it seems like neither can put their own ego aside."

"Guys, it's not nice to talk about people when they aren't there to defend themselves," Christian said. Sydney, who had pulled out his lab top looked up and nodded his agreement.

"Yea," Sydney said. "So Rafael about the stone of time, you didn't finish the story."

"Yea," Rafael said. "There was an Elemental that lived a long time ago, about the same time as the original Fire and Water," he motioned towards Zack and Cody. "Who became Zack and Cody. Again, time was his element, making him very powerful. Unfortunately, I didn't get the entire story, because of the condition of many of the markings, but apparently there was a large battle that ensued."

"Battle?" Patrick asked.

"Yes," Rafael said. "It was an Elemental War, but towards the end of the battle, his powers to control time got sealed away."

"In the Stone of Time," Cody said, his eyes wide.

"Yes," Rafael said with a nod.

-----
Mike and Rikku walked out of the store. He opened his Mountain Dew and took a healthy swig. "That's good," Mike said with a smile. Rikku rolled her eyes. Mike mockingly sighed and began walking back.

"You ever consider that your ego is too big for your own good?" Rikku asked in a disgusted tone.

"From time to time," Mike replied.

"You're impossible!" Rikku said.

Mike coughed out his latest drink. "I'm impossible? You're the one who hates me for no real reason and won't leave me alone!"

"I wonder why," Rikku said innocently.

"Well, well," a voice said. "Who have we here?"

Mike and Rikku both looked around to see where the voice had come from. A glance down a nearby alley however told them both the answer. Walking towards them was a middle aged man wearing a black cloak. His eyes were two cold, empty holes and his shoulder length hair fanned out at the bottom. "Damien..." Mike said, his eyes narrowing. "As if I didn't have enough happening right now. What do you want?"

"What do I always want?" Damien replied with a smile as he approached them.

"A life?" Mike replied with a smirk. "A new hair style wouldn't hurt either."

"Like I said, it's a wonder you aren't dead yet," Rikku shot at Mike. She had lowered her voice so only he could hear, but Damien had heard her also.

"Well it would see she doesn't like you too much," Damien said. "So who am I to keep her in misery?" With that a green beam appeared around his arm which he then whipped at Mike and Rikku.

Acting fast, Mike and Rikku both jumped out of the way. A second later, Mike's eyes glowed blue and his weapon jumped from his pocket and into his hand. He hit a button on the side of it, causing a blue blade to appear at the end of its silver handle. The center of the blade glowed so brightly it was basically white.

"Why can't you just do what you're told," Rikku said as she backed off while Mike and Damien began to circle. Damien flung the green beam at him again, faster this time. Mike barely had enough time to get his blade up to parry the blow. Electricity from the beam surged down the blade causing a brilliant light. Mike leapt back and prepared for another attack.

"Shadow ball!" Mike said as a small black ball appeared in his other hand. Blue sparks danced around the ball as he flung it at Damien. Using a similar solid black ball, Damien blocked the attack. The collision of the two attacks caused a thick layer of black fog to fill the surrounding area.

"I can't see anything," Rikku said to herself. She held a chain sickle in her hand, ready in case an attack came her way.

-----
After awhile, Noah looked up at the window. His eyes widened when he took in the empty picture outside their house. "Uh guys?" Noah said. "Mike and Rikku are supposed to be outside right?"

"Yea," Julius nodded. "Why?"

"Because they're not there now," Noah replied with a nervous sigh.

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