The Revolution begins…
The head of the Niwa clan was He surprised to see more than three people return. He was really in for shocks when he found out that not only were they of Hikari blood; they also wanted to join their side! He decided to allow them in.
"So what happened out there?!" he finally asked.
"Five came to fight; one of them was too stubborn to listen to reason, so I had to kill him…" said Syaoran.
"Let me guess, he was the 94-year-old hunter…" grumbled their father.
"How'd ya guess?" joked Dark.
"I wouldn't be laughing if I were you…" muttered one of the Hikari.
"He's right; once they find out what happened they'll kill us first!" said another.
"Would you two relax, Kage and Iruka?! When they get here, they'll have to face the first line!" said Rune.
"The first line? You mean you knew that they were…" started one of the ex-assassins.
"That's how we knew you lot were coming. We used a spell to see through the temple; so we got ready for the attack."
"It ended for the best; we never wanted to kill human prey, only animal!" laughed another.
"That's why we let you in; I knew that you'd have a hard time killing someone."
"Now I think they should meet the others don't you?" said Rune.
"Dark, could you lead them to the 'infirmary'? I think they should get their wings checked…" hinted Yue."Sure!" Dark had an idea of what he was up to.
In the 'Infirmary'…
"Woah. I never knew your healers were so…"
"Hot? Hehehe, now you know why he sent you here and not the ward!" snickered Dark.
"Remind me to thank Syaoran for bringing us back with them," grinned the first.
"Are they enjoying the 'infirmary', Dark?" laughed Syaoran.
"Yup! Think they'll mention this to the others?"
"Most likely; or they'll spread rumors throughout the clan…"
"What is it with you boys and healers!?" growled Rune.
Dark and Syaoran burst out laughing. They weren't about to tell her the truth just yet!
"What do ya think; should we tell the others about the Niwa clan?" asked one of the ex-hunters.
"Definitely! Wouldn't you agree Toshiro?"
"I'm just glad that the head of their clan doesn't keep the good ones to himself. How many times have we been stuck with the older ones, Kira?" asked Toshiro.
"Too many; and I think we can speak for all the men when I say that!" said Kira.
"I think that we should permanently join the Niwa clan, don't you Shuhei?" said the youngest.
"They probably won't let us; but they might help us start a sub-clan with both bloodlines in it, Hanatoro!" said Shuhei.
"Having fun boys?" laughed one of the healers named Isane.
"Yes ma'am!" replied all four in unison.
Her friends tried not to laugh at their quick response! The Hikari clan hunters may have been their enemy; but at least they had better manners than most!
"So you think we have at least six days before they enter our territory?" asked their father.
"A majority of the Hikari clan can't use even the simplest magic. That's why if a couple has a child with even a hint of magic in them, they get a higher rank; though how high is usually based on how much power the child can use…" answered Syaoran.
"So they have a bigger problem with magic…" said Rune.
"How many children with magic are born each year?" asked Dark.
"On average? At least ten-to-thirteen each year."
"I thought you said that you didn't have many magic users…"
"You asked how many are born in a year, not how many are at a decent age to actually use it!" grumbled Syaoran.
"How many live to their twenties?" asked their father.
"On average; around four or five and that's if we're extremely lucky."
"What happened to the other children?" asked Rune.
"If they have little or almost no magic, they're either stuck in the Healer's ward or they die from an 'accident'."
"How horrible!"
"What happens to your kin with magic?" griped Syaoran.
"We raise them to be thieves, like Dark. If they can't get past a certain point, they're allowed to opt out and become healers…" said their father."No wonder you always had better healers…how many opt out to become healers?"
"Mostly it's the females who decide to become healers; the boys only go if they don't like the training. Though half the time they try to opt out and get closer to the girls."
"What do you do with fools like them?" asked Syaoran.
"Send their ass straight back to the beginning lessons. The last thing the healers need is hormone-driven idiots getting in their way!" growled their father.
The hunters from the Hikari clan came in around this time and tried not to laugh. Dark turned toward them, grinning.
"How many of the guys deliberately get hurt just to go to the healers?" asked Toshiro.
"Too damn many! But the girls came up with a good way to avoid them; they just claim that the boys are too injured for them to handle and send them straight to the more experienced healers!" snorted Rune.
Now all the guys started laughing. Being sent to the healers just to hit on the girls only to be sent to the older ones! That was hilarious.
"But if it's the other way around, then what?" asked Hanatoro.
"If they want to be closer to the guys, they never leave the phantom thief program! We only discipline the men for pulling stunts like that. If it's a girl doing it, then we let it slide," answered Rune.
"So either way, it's the females who benefit the most from your training," said Kira.
"What happens to the girls with magic in your clan?" asked Dark.
"If they have magic, then half the time the elders wait until they're old enough to have kids. Then they pair them off with the stronger male magic users."
"Yikes, now that explains why so many are born with magic. But why do you only have 4 or 5 live to be twenty?" asked Dark.
"Because the women don't want their girls to go through the same hell. Most of those born that way are girls."
"What do the mothers who use magic do with their daughters?" asked Rune.
"Have you ever heard of the Dorms?"
"That dull place?!"
"They send them there to protect them. When the girls get old enough, then they leave the Dorms and live freely. That is, if they make it there at all," answered Shuhei.
"Let me guess; the elders don't want the females with magic escape," growled Rune.
"If they're caught trying to escape, then the mothers are killed. The daughters are forced to go through the hell that they mother did. So if they're caught, usually the mothers take their girls with them into death."
"I can see why," muttered Dark.
"So do you four have magic?"
"Yes, and it's the kind that allows us to hunt with all of our senses. That is the rarest kind of magic found amongst the Hikari."
"So, do you have to…?"
"No, the hunters are almost never around to pair off. It takes them off of their duties," answered Syaoran.
Dark was thinking…if the mothers wanted to protect the females born, then would they use the window to leave?
"Hey, Syaoran…"
"Yeah, what?"
"If the women wanted to protect the girls born, do you think they'd take the first chance they'd get?"
"Most likely; why do you…oh, I get it!"
"Dark, you aren't thinking of…" started their father.
"So guys, do you know which route is the safest to the Dorms?" grinned Dark.
"Don't cry, Karin. Mommy won't let you suffer the way I did…" said a cloaked woman, carrying her girl.
"Sonya, did you hear that?! It sounds like the beat of large wings!" whispered one of the other mothers in fear.
"Hello ladies!" grinned Dark.
"What the…?! Who are you?!" exclaimed Sonya.
"Relax, Sonya, he's here to help," said Syaoran soothingly.
"Syaoran! I heard that you were dead!"
"I'm not dead, but I brought friends who want to help you and the others…"
"Hello, Sonya wasn't it? I'm Rune Niwa and that grinning idiot is my brother Dark."
Karin giggled at Rune's description.
"How can you help us? I don't think three people can protect thirty!"
"We brought reinforcements, including our healers. We of the Niwa clan aren't heartless you know." Rune smiled warmly.
Meanwhile, the Hikari clan finally reached the border of Niwa territory. If they took another step, there would be NO going back, and the war would begin. The clan continued forward without pause.