Chapter 10:

Mirihanna sat outside Chunhyang's house in silence, slowly weaving her long white hair into a braid. It was a habit of hers messing up her hair when she was nervous. She finished the braid by tying the tip with a small ribbon she had in her pocket.

She took a big breath and released all the air in her lungs. While looking into the fields ahead of her, she saw three familiar shapes approaching. She stood up, waiting to receive her friends, but she noticed the sorrow in the girl's eyes and blood trailing in Syaoran's forehead. When they were close, she walked to them with a worried expression.

"What happened?" Chunhyang proceeded to open the door of her house with her head down.

"The Ryan-ban's son." Syaoran said with a small smile. "Don't worry Mia-san."

Mirihanna sighed and rested her hands on her waist.

"Always so polite and responsible." She said and gestured to the door.

"Go on. Off you go." Syaoran entered the room with Sakura close behind him.

"I guess something happened." Mirihanna heard Fai say while she entered.

Syaoran started explaining how they were attacked by the Ryan-ban's son and the wind again. Mirihanna sat on the floor and listened carefully to the details. She saw her teacup still were she left it and picked it up only to find the tea icy cold.

"I don't get it." Said Kurogane "If the Ryan-ban is such a tyrant, why don't the people rise and fight?"

Chunhyang was getting filled with emotion once more and explained that they could not reach the Ryan-ban. Every time they tried, a powerful magic would block the entrance of the palace and the wind would attack the villagers.

"Is the wind the source of power that Mokona fells?" Asked the mage to the creature.

"Mokona fells a lot of strange powers in this world! Mokona does not know…" It said sweetly.

"Then what about the son? Can't you just kidnap him?" Said Fai with a huge smile.

Everybody looked at him like if he was mad.

"How can you say something like that so happily…" Kurogane mocked at him with an evil grin.

"That is just absurd. You would act as devilish as the Ryan-Ban." Mirihanna added.

"No! It's impossible. The Ryan-Ban protects him with his power! If-if we did that to his son…" The little girl cried not capable of finishing her sentence.

"You would all perish…" Mirihanna mumbled mostly to herself. Silence was taken over once more.

"This is no normal power." Mirihanna said out loud. Syaoran and the others looked at her.

"No one can simply master nature by will. I believe that we have witnessed such bizarre events in the past."

"You don't mean…" Syaoran spoke in disbelief. "Sakura's feather?"

"Oy that's impossible. The kid said the Ryan-ban got his power over a year ago. The feathers were scattered recently, right?" Kurogane leaned closed to her with his hand on his knees. Fai gently smiled, realizing the theory behind this mystery.

"These are different dimension. Maybe time passed differently as well."

Mirihanna's mind was in motion once more. Did that meant that in her world time was going faster? Or maybe slower? What if she was too late to save everyone from harm? She pressed her temples again to release her stress.

"I'll go check it out." Said Syaoran rising from his spot but was quickly grabbed by Sakura who's eyes were filled with worry.

"Wait Syaoran-kun! You're hurt! You can't!" The boy gently smiled at her.

"Don't worry, Sakura-Hime. If the feather's there, I'll get it for you." Sakura's eyes seemed not to understand the reason of his dedication. Mirihanna rested a hand on her shoulder, gesturing her to sit besides her. She noticed that the poor girl was confused in thoughts and memories she did not possessed. Before Syaoran was about to leave the room, Fai stopped him, reminding everyone that the Ryan-ban had some kind of powerful spell protecting him. He was right; they couldn't just walk there. It would be too dangerous for them.

"Oy, can't you do something about it, mage?"

"Not at all!" He replied with a big smile. Mirihanna looked at him with a distrusting look. She could fell that he had a very strong magical power in him, and yet he was hiding it for some reason.

They all decided to call Yuko through Mokona to find help. With much disbelief, Mirihanna witnessed the furry creature project a colorful image of the witch and her jaw opened when she could hear the lady speak to them.

Syaoran and Fai explained to the witch the hole situation and the women looked at them in confusion with her red deadly eyes.

"You don't have to ask me such things. Can't you use spells, Fai?" The witch's glare penetrated Fai's blue eyes. But as always, she mage smiled and replied.

"I gave you the core of my powers." Mirihanna paid close attention. Could he be talking of the marking he gave?

"The Tattoo I took from you…" The witch began. "Were the core to keep in your powers. Your power itself as nothing to do with it." Fai stayed in silence for seconds. He underestimated the witch's knowledge and he regretted deeply his previous lie.

"Still." The mage started, regaining his grace. "I have a rule not to use magic without it." He could feel the glares coming from Kurogane and the looks from everyone else on the back of his neck while he spoke.

Yuko gave him a blank expression and finally agreed, demanding a payment. Fai proceeded to get his icy magical staff from a corner of the room, giving it to Mokona who sent it straight to the witch. Mirihanna watched the small creature open widely its mouth and swallow it hole with ease. A few second later, it spit to Syaoran's hand a small ball with a strong magical aura. Yuko wished them luck and disappeared in the air.

"Well I guess that's it!" Fai said with a big smile. "We should get going to the Ryan-ban's palace."

After a while, they all changed into some new clothes that Syaoran and Sakura managed to bargain through a game of dices. Mirihanna was wearing some light baggy pant that came with a small skirt that covered the mid front and back of her waist and a pair of brown slippers. On top she had a loose ornamented blouse with long sleeves that accentuated her waist. She left Chunhyang's house hearing a big 'NO'. She looked at Chunhyang who was stomping her foot and then and the three men that were about to leave. Lifting her eyebrow, she spoke with annoyance.

"What is the matter."

"They won't let me go to the palace with them!" The young girl cried to Mirihanna looking for support. Fai leaned down at her and smiled sweetly.

"It's going to be very dangerous!" Fai reinforced and looked at Kurogane that simply pretended not to notice. Mirihanna noticed that he was avoiding the situation.

"I'm not good with kids." He mumbled. Chunhyang then ran to Syaoran begging him to let her go with them.

"Please Syaoran, we'll defeat him together! Let me go to defend my Omoni!" She cried. The girl was almost on her knees, but Syaoran had a serious expression and gave a firm 'no', making her flitch with pain in her little heart. She was about to cry again but Mirihanna gently grabbed her shoulder and turned her to her direction. The men and Sakura all looked at her, waiting to see what she was about to say.

"Chunhyang." She began. "You're strong at heart and mind, and I admire you." She said with a small smile while the little girl wiped her tears with her sleeve.

"I know how it is to loose someone you love and care and simply not being capable of doing anything." Chunhyang stopped crying and looked up at the white haired girl.

"But hate, only leaves to more hate." She added with a more severe expression.

"You are not fighting with the right reasons." She finally said with a strong presence. The little girl sniffed once more but listened, like a good child.

"But he killed my Omoni… he-he took her away from me!" The girl shacked with anger and sadness at the same time.

"If you kill the Ryan-Ban with your own hands. What then? Will you feel better having blood on your hands? How will you fell after becoming a tyrant as well?"

Chunhyang closed her hands into fists realizing what Mirihanna just said. But deep down, she was still a child and was fighting her stubbornness in silence and tears. Mirihanna patted gently her head like a mother comforting her child and walked forward to the men.

"Oy, were do you think you're going?" Kurogane crossed his arms and looked at her.

"I'm coming with you." She simply said with her steady pace. She glanced behind to see Chunhyang in a distance crying on Sakura's lap. She frowned. She hoped that she wasn't too harsh on the child. After all, she knew how she felt, deep in her heart. That was the main reason why she joined them. She truly wanted to help her. For years in her travels she was all alone and she had no one to truly depend on. Although they were strangers, Chunhyang had them. That was something she did not have after the invasion of her home. She quietly bit her lower lip. Thinking of the past always made her uncomfortable. Knowing that there was no home to come back, was painful.

"Mirihanna-san you don't have to do this." Syaoran insisted bringing her back to the present. She kept walking, making the three men follow. The girls that were left behind were getting out of sigh and Mirihanna kept her steady pace. Fai observed closely her figure for the first time. Without her cape, Mirihanna's body moved very elegantly with swinging hips and a firm posture, almost like a ballerina.

"Mia-Chan, wouldn't be better if you stayed with Sakura-Chan and Chunhyang-Chan? You'd be safe and…" The mage closed his mouth when he saw the girl stop and quickly turn around to them. She calmly raised her arms in defense and started her argument of defence.

" I would be of no good left behind. I said I would help Syaoran and I will." Kurogane raised an eyebrow at her and waited for her to continuo.

"Besides, you are all going to battle. You'll need a healer." She let her arms fall on her sides and gave a small shrug.

"Can you fight?" Was the only question that the ninja made. She gave a small smile.

"I am not a damsel in distress… nor I will be." The ninja glared at her, still not satisfied with her answer. She rested one hand on her hip.

"Do not fret. I will be just fine." She gestured her hand at him and turned around.

"Heh Mia-Chan seems pretty confident!" Said Fai with his arms around his back. Syaoran got closer to her. He was slightly smaller than her.

"Mirihanna-San. Thank you for wanting to help." She looked at him and gave a smile.

The four of them stood in front of the big gates of the Ryan-Ban's palace. Huge walls of stones stood proudly in the field. Kurogane pushed the big doors only to find the palace upside down, like and illusion.

"Hmm…now this is unusual." Mirihanna said mostly to herself.

"I guess all entrances must be like this. Maybe this is the spell Chunhyang was talking about earlier." Said Fai scratching his chin.

"I think now it's time to use the gift of the Witch!" He happily said. Syaoran kicked the strange ball into the air and straight to the palace. Suddenly an invisible shield started cracking around the palace and the spell was broken.

'That was easy' she though to herself while she watched the men walk first into the palace.

"Keep close by, Mia-Chan! We don't want to lose you." Fai said and reached a hand to her but was quickly denied when she walked past him. Kurogane even though he was up ahead, seemed to notice her behavior.

They walked through a long and tall corridors for what seemed to be hours. The walls seemed to keep going and going through a never ending corridor.

"We got in alright, but were are all the people?" Kurogane stopped his march and started looking around, frustrated at the situation.

"There aren't even doors." Mirihanna spoke "This doesn't fell right."

"We just came back to the same spot." Syaoran said picking up a pebble on the floor "I dropped this in the entrance of the hallway so that we would get lost."

Fai then started making a 'Fyuu' sound with his mouth and clapped his hands.

"Syaoran, you're good!"

"Was that a attempt to whistle?" Asked Kurogane with a small sweat drop on his forehead.

"I can't whistle!" The mage happily replied and trailed off.

"We can't just walk in circles." Kurogane said and Mirihanna nodded in agreement. She noticed Fai placing his hand on the wall and mumbling something.

"I can sense a strong magic on the other side of this wall. Maybe the Ryan-Ban's in there?" He happily said and noticed the stares he was gaining from his friends. He started babbling a lot of word, trying to hide something from them but was quickly stopped by the Ninja.

"Weren't you supposed not to use Magic?" He gave a big smile and replied to his partner.

"I didn't use Magic. This is called intuition!" Mirihanna slowly crossed her arms and looked into Fai's eyes. She started noticing the mask he was always wearing. Pretending to be happy and relaxed in all situation when deep inside, she could fell something was boiling. She kept her distance from him. It was not like she didn't like him. She could feel goodness in his heart. She could see that he was kind and caring and of course very charming. But there was something else that made her judge. He was hiding himself and lying. How knows the reason for this…

Kurogane stepped into action and with a mighty punch; he broke the wall into pieces, creating a small cloud of smoke and debris. Mirihanna waved her hand in front of her face, preventing the dust to enter her eyes. She slowly entered the room to find a distant shape. She could fell the difference of pressure in this room. The air seemed to be thinker and heavier and she could also sense a very powerful aura around.

"You have finally arrived… nameless wanderers." They all heard a voice echo from a distance. Suddenly a tall and slim figure of a woman with fair skin appeared wearing a beautiful long dress and an evil smile. Mirihanna's eyes widened at the sight of the woman for she rapidly recognized her from her past. She slowly reached her hand to touch her mouth.

"Who the hell are you?!" Kurogane asked in annoyance.

"Kiishimu…" Mirihanna said almost in a whisper. Fai glanced at her.

"Do you know her from your world?" She nodded. Never again she thought she would see her tutor again.

"Concentrate, little one. You will not grasp it without a sharp mind." Said Kiishimu to a younger Mirihanna who had a small pot of dirt with some dead flowers. She strongly closed her eyes to focus her energy on the object and a slight green aura started weaving his way into the flowers. Holding her breath, she bit her lip and frowned as she put every single strength she had. Soon enough she ran out of air and the aura faded. The small girl looked up with teary eyes to the tall woman.

"Is that all you got to offer, my pet?"

"I try! But I can't. It's too hard, Kiishimu-Sama. I just…can't." Kiishimu kneeled down to her and touched the deceased flowers examining them carefully. She picket up a small green leaf and showed the little white haired girl.

"Look, precious." Mirihanna's vibrant green eyes grew and she gave a big smile.

"You have to believe in yourself, little one. You are meant of great thing in your little life." The lovely lady said smiling.

"Now. Again." She demanded and the girl closed her eyes once more. As her confidence grew, so her power and suddenly a single red rose grew proudly in the pot. Mirihanna opened her eyes and squealed in joy giving small jumps with the pot in her hands.

"I healed it! I healed it!"

"Excellent work." The women said proudly. Mirihanna reached her hand to touch the beautiful flower but didn't notice the thorns in it. Her gentle finger pierced it making it bleed. She wept and the green aura turned dark and the flower dissolved into dust, leaving nothing but the dirt in the pot. The little girl looked with sad eyes.

"Kiishimu-Sama." She called her tutor with great sorrow. The lady's face became severe but even so, she gave a small smile.

"Hush now. It is okay." She said while cupping the young one's cheek.

"You have a great among of potential. You mustn't let your fear guide you. Or else…" The lady picket the small pot in her hands.

"Instead of life… you'll give death."

Kiishimu glanced at them and started speaking with great presence.

"After 100 years of History, Humans are still so similar to insects…You should be very careful with what you say… but, it as been so long since I haven't had visitors that I will tolerate." She gave them a smile. A smile Mirihanna knew so well in her memories.

"What the hell are you talking about, women. Just tell us were the Ryan-Ban is!" Mirihanna widened her eyes and quickly ran to Kurogane.

"You should not upset her."

"Heh what do you mean? Do you know her?" He asked glancing at the girl.

"In my world, yes. If she's the same person like in my world, we'll have to be careful. She's very powerful."

Syaoran didn't hesitate and approached the woman saying that they were looking for something that may be in the palace and asked for a safe passage. The woman revealed her long nails and glanced at him.

"You have bright eyes, little one. But I cannot let you pass this place." She said standing up from her place. Fai placed his hands on his hips.

"I get the impression that you'll be rough with us so we can't pass, right?" He smiled at her and she smiled back, nodding her head. Kurogane gave a devilish grin.

"Oy, girl. Tell me why you say she's so dangerous." He asked enjoying the tension in the air. Mirihanna placed her feet firmly on the ground, ready to what would come next and made her stand.

"She's not a normal fighter." She started feeling a familiar dizzy sensation in her head.

"She's a master…" Mirihanna continued, slightly crouching to maintain her balance.

"Of what?" Asked Syaoran with his hands into fists. Suddenly the place changed and they were in a great open field with slim pillars. There were huge bubbles in the air and below, a river with a small shrines were Kiishimu stood. The group was scattered through the pillars.

"A master of illusion." She finished, crouching completely with her elbows in her knees.

Hello everyone!

I would like to take a moment to give a huge thanks to FALLING-ANGEL24 and Luna Elsworth for their positive reviews! It means the world to me :)

Next chapter we'll get to see and discover a little bit more of Mirihanna's powers...

Thank you for reading my store and have a good day!