Chapter the Tenth

"Hey, Yayoi, can you still practice?" Miki asked, knelt by her student's bed. Yayoi smiled.

"Yeah, I think so. The other day I practiced that blinding sphere and a shield, and it seemed fine. So I think I'm good."

Miki nodded. "Since that attack, there's been no activity from Turiavita for five days. That means we can start to practice again, 'kay? Let's see…where did we leave off?"

"Um…you were teaching me how to make a lance."

"Oh yeah! Well, first, you need to focus," Miki instructed. "When you're nice and focused, put your hands like this…in little fists right next to each other." Miki demonstrated by placing her fisted hands right next to each other in front of her, lengthwise with her thumbs touching.

Yayoi obeyed.

"Now, loosen your fists just a little." Miki followed her own directions, loosening her fists so that her pointer finger rested on the first joint in her thumb. Yayoi followed her lead. "And then you focus all your power into your hands…"

"Got it!" Yayoi closed her eyes and tried to concentrate her light powers into her hands.

"Now slowly separate your hands. Lances are tapered like a candle, so slowly close your right hand as you go and open your left hand," Miki continued. She waited to see Yayoi nodding before she finished her own lance (or at least the lance part).

Yayoi seemed to be focusing intently, so Miki remained silent as the young wizard followed in her teacher's footsteps and crafted a lance. Miki giggled.

"Perfect!" she praised. "You really are a prodigy, Yayoi~. Nano."

Yayoi giggled too. "Thank you!"

"Now we need to make the handle. Hold on to the wide part with your right hand and, with your left hand, grab onto the very edge and stretch out a handle. Like…like this." Miki demonstrated, mostly because she wasn't confident in her own abilities to properly explain things.

Yayoi understood, since she completed her lance perfectly. She laughed. "Miki-san, look~!"

"Yay! You did it flawlessly! Great job, Yayoi~! Now, you can throw these at bad guys, or you can use them for melee attacks. They're a great weapon, the best kind a light magician can create."

Yayoi nodded. "Can they…kill?" she asked quietly.

Miki turned solemn. "If they have to."

Yayoi nodded again, more slowly. She sighed. "It's time I just accepted this, huh?" she muttered.

"Maybe," Miki sighed. "Miki doesn't like it either, but there isn't anything she can do. So, what else do you want to try?"

"Um…can we practice shields some more? Mine feel so flimsy."

"Got it!"

*.*.*.*

The mages and wizards were currently gathered in Chihaya's room. Hibiki carried Yayoi in her arms so that the light wizard could attend the last-minute meeting without hurting herself too much. Chihaya was seated on her waterbed, the rest of the magicians gathered around her in random rooms. A few guards were stationed around the outside as well, including the previous Wind Mage, Otonashi Kotori, and Yayoi's personal guard, Amagase Touma.

Chihaya had called the meeting only minutes before. No one was quite sure what it was about, but the Grand Mage looked serious, so they assumed it was something big. Chihaya looked around at the assembled people and sighed.

"Turiavita is starting to annoy me," she stated simply. "I don't want them to keep destroying our wizards and mages. This has to stop."

"What do you suggest we do, Grand Mage?" Takane prompted.

Chihaya lifted her chin in authority. "Take the offensive."

A few gathered magicians gasped. Chihaya lowered her chin.

"…Hagiwara-san?"

Yukiho stepped forwards. "Yes, Chihaya-chan."

"I apologize." Chihaya dipped her head. "I thoughtlessly killed Dark Yukiho without paying heed to what it would do to you."

Yukiho smiled. "It's alright. Chihaya-chan. It was necessary."

Chihaya nodded. "Makoto?"

"Yeah?"

"Look after her. She was already one of the weakest wizards, but Dark Yukiho's death has weakened her even more."

"You think I need you to tell me that?" Makoto flashed a thumbs-up. "Hey, Yukiho's my best friend. I'll protect her, no orders needed."

Chihaya smiled. "Good. Takatsuki-san?"

"I'm here," Yayoi called from Hibiki's arms.

"Stay as close to the other wizards as possible. Miki, look after her and make sure she stays safe. Hibiki, Shijou-san…cover them."

"What's our plan?" Ritsuko asked.

Chihaya offered a weak laugh. "I was hoping you could help me with that."

Ritsuko laughed back. "Alright. First, we should split off into groups. Each group tackles a different member of Turiavita. A fifth group can be sent into Mondenkind to get help. Chihaya, Grand Mage, choose the groups."

Chihaya nodded. "…I will take Minase-san and the twins. Shijou-san, you lead a second group with Hibiki and Ritsuko-san. Makoto, you just take Hagiwara-san with you. And Takatsuki-san, I want you with Azusa-san."

The assembled people nodded. Chihaya looked down at the floor.

"…My group will handle Dark Chihaya. Shijou-san, your group goes against Karasu. Makoto and Hagiwara-san, you handle Riffa. And Takatsuki-san and Azusa-san…you two are up against Dark Makoto."

Everyone but the two wizards (and Chihaya) gasped.

"Are you joking?!" Makoto snapped. "Dark Makoto will slice them to pieces in seconds!"

"Not them, she won't," Chihaya corrected. "…I was wrong when I said she is completely frozen over. In truth, there is a piece of her that still remembers the girl she was before the incident. And Takatsuki-san and Azusa-san know just how to get to that person."

Makoto was silent. "…why Yayoi?"

"Have you noticed that she's still alive?" Chihaya smiled. "That's more than can be said for most of Dark Makoto's other targets."

Hibiki let out a hiss. "I wanna get revenge on that girl. Because o' 'er, my powers don't work right an' I can't be a mage."

"We have to think strategy here," Chihaya said firmly. "You and Shijou-san are the least susceptible to Karasu's mind games, and Ritsuko-san has a steely nerve. The three of you will work perfectly against that man. Minase-san and the twins can absorb Dark Chihaya's powers, so her abilities will be virtually useless against them. They can handle the defense while my ice handles offense. Makoto and Hagiwara-san are admittedly the weakest team, although the both of them understand their missions and will readily dispose of a weaker wizard like Riffa. And Azusa-san and Takatsuki-san together will be able to penetrate the darkness within Dark Makoto's soul and convince her to go back to the way she was. It's strategy."

Ritsuko nodded. "She's right. It's a genius plan…"

Chihaya sighed. "Two days. On the night of the half moon, in two days, we shall strike. Be ready."

"It would be easier if Haruka was here," Hibiki muttered.

Chihaya winced. "…we can do this just fine on our own," she said quietly. "Please just trust me."

Hibiki nodded.

"Now…everyone return to your training. I want you in top shape for the upcoming battle. And…one more thing."

Everyone waited.

"Do not hesitate to kill if your opponent is too tricky. They will kill you, so you can not hesitate to kill them."

"Wait! You didn't give Miki a group!"

Chihaya blinked, then slapped her palm in her face. "I forgot Miki…!"

"Um, yeah! How could you forget Miki?!"

Chihaya sighed. "Miki, you'll be our special fifth group. Infiltrate Mondenkind and convince them to be on our team. You won't have any problems even if you are alone since they are all nearly on our side anyways."

Miki nodded. "OK, got it, nano."

The Grand Mage looked at the ceiling. "Now disperse."

(Totally Random Author's Note: You know, I haven't spotlighted Iori in a really long time, it feels like. She's supposed to be a main character.

I blame Miki, she's always stealing the spotlight.

I'll have to put more focus on our favorite little Deko-chan in the upcoming chapters.)