Thank you for the reviews, follows and favorites! I feel like a robot repeating all this all time. But really thank you for your support. I think it's sorta stupid to be happy for over 1000 views on this fic but anyway I am! I'll celebrate with a (digital) champagne or something.

Anyway... I am sorry. I am a terrible person. After like a two week wait, I uploaded a chapter with a cliffhanger again. I'm sorry, just a warning haha... I will fill up your anticipation soon I promise since majority of things have already settled down. Not much action here, will be a lot in the next chapter. I promise.

Kiseki (GOM) will also come soon. I know I am dragging this too long.

Hope you enjoy... *slowly hides behind a bulletproof window*

Who was the goddess of Peace again? What about the guardian of war? Or maybe the lady of good fortune? Perhaps the wind god for good travels?

Whatever. Just give him someone to pray to so they might grant him help. And immediately. By the Great Empire, he was going puke out his breakfast any moment.

Kawahara was currently being thrown around by Koganei's whirlwind attack. Meanwhile Kagami found himself struggling with Mitobe's defensive skills. And the paper lantern shikigami was still hovering in a small corner.

After Kawahara found himself a distance away, he noticed how quick Koganei became on his foot. He rushed towards the shikigami, wanting to grab it. Until, Kagami managed a quick slash from his broad sword.

"Yip! If I hadn't dodged that…" Koganei whimpered as he rubbed his neck.

Kagami, with brute force burst from Mitobe's grip. Using his broad sword, he formed a circular slash technique forcing the taller of Serin's duo to back off. Koganei, also could not stand against the immense pressure of the attack and was forced a few meters back.

With great speed, the knight rushed and grabbed the edge of the paper lantern as Kawahara silently stared in awe.

"And… that makes eight." Izuki hummed as he counted the slips of paper in Hyuga's hand. "Riko summons twenty shikigami each round, yes?"

Hyuga nodded as he scanned the surroundings. "But she hides them quite well. Even I have a bit of a tough time detecting her magic."

Suddenly, Tsuchida appeared from behind the trees. "Hyuga-san." He panted slightly. Hyuga looked at Izuki who understood what the other meant. They followed the other behind closely and saw Mitobe and Koganei. Both of them were looking slightly battered.

"Mahhh, he was so fast…" Koganei whined as Mitobe gestured to Hyuga to indicate they were alright.

"It seems that we have some powerful new guild members." Hyuga chuckled as the two of them brushed the dirt off their clothes. "Let's go together this time."

All of them nodded.

Meanwhile, the summoner had stopped in his tracks suddenly, surprising the two walking ahead.

"What's up, Kuroko?" Furihata asked as he approached the shorter, who was still looking in the left direction.

"Red aura…" He muttered. The other did not get what he meant and he turned to look at Fukuda for a little help. Kuroko closed his eyes as he tried to sense what was around him.

It had been a while since he had used this magic- radar magic. Akashi was much adapt in this then he was. After all, it was he who was the strongest of them. Kuroko had not like using it, since it reminded him of the old days. Yet he did not have a choice in this manner. It would not do themselves good if they remained split up. Some Shikigamis were dangerous after all as proven by that white owl.

"Kagami-san." Kuroko nodded a little. Both the people behind him remained perplexed by his unorthodox actions. Suddenly, a large figure (literally) smashed through the tall overgrown plants.

"Why. Are. There. So many plants?!" Kagami snapped as he swung his hand to pull the vines hanging down from the trees. Kawahara silently followed behind and Fukuda and Furihata was just stunned by the sudden change of events.

Well at least luck is finally shining on them a little.

"Hello Kagami-san." Kagami jumped, when he saw Kuroko appearing at his left side. "And it is a tropical forest. The plant density is high here."

"Wha- How-What- Huh?" Kagami was unable to form coherent words as his finger just remained pointing at Kuroko, slightly shaking. Not to mention that there was this voice that nagged behind Kagami if Kuroko was doing all this on purpose.

Kuroko, of course, remained nonchalant.

"We caught a shikigami, or rather Kagami did." Kawahara spoke up, breaking the momentary silence minus Kagami's stuttering. "Not to mention, he managed to thrash two of Seirin's members." He added.

"I didn't. I just brushed them off and got away with the loot. They are quite strong, though I hate to admit." Kagami grumbled.

"So why did you choose to run away then?" Furihata asked.

"I thought that weak guy couldn't last a second there." Kagami muttered. Kuroko looked up at him, without much of a facial expressions (as usual) and asked.

"You were worried about me?" And he gave some sort of a smug yet confused look. His expressions were hard to discern.

Before this erupted into a fight, Fukuda quickly told Kagami that they managed to claim one of the shikigami as well as another one. It was easy since it was disguised as a normal flying forest squirrel (thank the heavens for Kuroko). No words could describe their happiness when they managed to chance upon something normal from Aida.

However when it had turn into a slip, there was a strange mark on it, which they did not wonder much since after much prodding nothing had happened. Kuroko made a slight frown, but he did not say much.

"That makes three and we need the fourth and fifth and we are done!" Kawahara cheered.

"No guys…" Fukuda paused in his tracks as the others turned to face him. "I think we are going to be out of time…"

An hour it was and half of it had passed.

Hence they ended up running- again.

"I thought (puff)… that we…(puff)… already ran enough…(puff)… to make up an entire walk throughout …(puff)… Touou's desert!" Furihata yelled.

"We don't have much of a choice here! Kuroko says he senses one ahead and he kept insisting to hurry!" Kawahara replied, thankfully his stamina was half tanked as compared to the two.

Furihata snapped, "He doesn't have to run!"

"If he ran, the sun would set for three days before we even reached our destination." Kagami shouted. He was not panting or huffing as much they were. The three had to mention that they were slightly jealous of his constitution.

"Kagami-san, I do not take that as a compliment." Kuroko said, as he bobbed up and down behind the knight's back.

"It wasn't…" Fukuda laughed quietly without humor.

"Hyuga-san?" Koganei inquired when Hyuga stopped in his tracks. Izuki grinned as he crouched on one of the branches slightly ahead of them.

"Guess what, guys? We will have a five-on-five team battle!"

"What do you mean, nya?" Koganei asked, shuddering slightly at the sudden thought of the big Knight. He looked at Mitobe who gestured.

"Mitobe says he doesn't see them either."

Hyuga took out his rod he slung from his back. "We would. In five minutes."

And indeed they met in five minutes. The Seirin members were about to laugh from their stunned expressions. From the time now to the end, it was twenty minutes. Their job was mainly to delay. Still, Aida had not minded if they toyed with them a little for a test indication on their strengths.

Looking at the Skikigami this time round, it was a large Moon Mountain Wolf. Hyuga knew that Shikigami, it was the most stubborn of Riko's lot. Not to mention, also the most hostile, even to its owner. The wolf gave a low growl to both teams.

"Well I guess its fight and chase. Sounds like fish and chips! Fight and chase!" Izuki laughed. It was then there was universal silence and everyone had that shadowed look (with the exception of Kuroko who looked away). Even the wolf as well.

"Shut up, Izuki."

...

Pwease review?