A/N: Well, I promised a chapter today, and here it is. I'm happy with the way it turned out. I can't decide if I want to make Michiru and Himeka a couple or not, but I couldn't resist giving them a sweet scene. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.

To: NaVi-ChAn12-14XD: I'm glad you think so! I hope you enjoy this next chapter!

To: spica14: here's a new chapter!

And here, without further ado, is the next installment in my story.

I stood there, staring at the glittering ring on my finger. Why did they give me this ring? Did they know I gave my Kamika ring to Karin? I turned around, quickly, and ran to Karin. She still sat in the same position, holding the three rings in her outstretched hands. I knelt beside her, and took her hands in mine, closing them around the rings. She looked up at me, her eyes wide. "Karin?" She was silent, "Can I have the honor of placing another ring on your finger?" I laughed. She smiled, the overwhelmed look finally beginning to leave her eyes. I gently slid her new Kamika ring on her finger, kissing her hand before letting go. I stood again. Holding my hand out in from of me, I shouted, "Ego Sum Deos!" The transformation was even better then before. I no longer felt the energy draining from me as I stood. In fact, I felt more power then I ever had pumping through my veins. Smiling to myself, I relinquished the transformation, and nearly jumped for joy when I didn't pass out. Thank you, Apollo! Now I can protect Karin and Himeka with all my strength.

I can't believe I saw a God! I watched as Kazune-Kun held his hand out, and shouted "Ego Sum Deos!" No! I tried to stand, to stop him before he killed himself. But my ankle couldn't support my weight yet, and I fell to the ground, groaning. I looked up to see Kazune, in his God form. He was filled with power, so strong I could feel it pulsing from him. I've never felt this kind of power coming from him before. He released the power, becoming normal Kazune-Kun again. Oh, yeah. Apollo said he could Kamika now. His emotions were rolling off him in waves, and I could feel the joy radiating from him. I let his joy fuel my own, and after a moment of this, he rushed over to me. He knelt with his back to me. "Are you ready to go back, Karin?" I scooted forward, and grabbed on to his shoulders. He wrapped his arms securely around my legs so I wouldn't fall, stood, and started to walk back to the house. "Kazune-Kun can use his god powers again!" "Yeah, I can." I smiled, even though I knew he couldn't see it, and rested my head against his back. Lulled by the rhythm of his footsteps and worn out from all the excitement of the day, I quickly fell asleep.

I sat on the stairs, my chin resting in my hand, watching Himeka pace back and forth. Her gaze alternated between her bare feet, and the still-closed door. She hadn't stopped since Karin ran away, and I knew that she was worried for both of them. "Himeka-san, maybe you should sit for a while?" I suggested idly. She stopped pacing for a moment, and looked at me, her eyes brimming with concern and many unshed tears. Jerkily, i stood, and before I really knew what I was doing, I was standing beside her, my arm around her shoulder, comforting her. "They'll be okay, Himeka-San," I said, guiding her by the shoulders to the stairs, where she sat, slowly, beside me. Suddenly, she buried her head in my shoulder and began to cry. I just stroked her hair gently, unsure of what else to do.

As I carried Karin through the grounds of my house, I concentrated on her heartbeat, and her even breathing. She's asleep. I smiled. She must be exhausted from worrying about me so much. I shifted her weight on my shoulders a little. She stirred, but didn't wake up. "Kazune-Kun…" she murmured. Idiot… Wearing yourself out worrying. We reached the house, and I stopped to open the door before stepping through the frame. I was surprised to see Himeka leaning on Michiru, who whispered, "She's sleeping." I nodded, before heading upstairs past them, to my bedroom. Karin stirred again, and I took the opportunity to detach her from me and lay her on the bed. I covered her up, kissed her forehead, and left, my thoughts full. Himeka has worn herself out, too? Michiru passed me in the hall, carrying the sleeping Himeka, and we exchanged worried glances. I made my way downstairs and into a chair by one of the large bay windows. Michiru joined me shortly, and we sat in silence for a while. "Kazune-kun, what happened out there?" he finally asked, clearly unable to hold it in any longer. I took a deep breath and began to talk.

My head buzzed, full of questions. I don't know where to start. "What kind of war could be so bad that they'd ask us to help?" He shrugged, "Who knows? They said they'd tell us more soon." "Why did they give us new rings? I still have my old one." "I think, they created the new rings because they won't break. Maybe, this new threat would have shattered the weaker rings." "How are we going to convince Jin to help?" "I think we should leave that to Karin. They've always had the best bond."

I continued answering Michiru's questions until he was silent. We hypothesized and wondered and speculated, but the truth was, we didn't know anything. Finally, I stood. "I'm going to check on Karin." As I walked past the front door, someone knocked on it loudly. I turned to open it, and was surprised to Kirika and Kirio Karasuma standing behind it. I was about to slam it on them, but Kirika, sensing that this was my plan, quickly said, "Wait!" I glared at them both, "What?" "Um… Nyx and Ares appeared before us this afternoon. They said we needed to form an alliance with you, and something about a war." Kirika said quickly, obviously still worried that I would slam the door on them. Sighing, I stepped aside to admit them into the house. "I guess you'd better tell us what happened."

Ten minutes later, we were all sitting in comfy chairs, with steaming cups of tea. I had woken up Himeka and Karin, figuring that they should hear the Karasumas' story, too. Kirio still hadn't said anything, but was instead glaring out the window to his left. "Kirika-Senpai, Why are you and glaring Glasses-Guy here?" Karin asked, from her place beside me. "I'm not glaring glasses-guy! I'm Karasuma Kirio!" he shouted, irritated. "We were told by the gods of our rings to come to you." Kirika answered, laying a comforting hand on her brother's arm. "Really? What happened?" Himeka asked. "Well, we were outside with our Himeka-Chan, gardening. We had just finished planting some wildflowers when Kirio and I both felt a Kamika reaction. We turned around quickly, and saw Nyx and Ares. They were standing about 10 feet tall, staring down at us. All we could do was stare back. They told us that a war was threatening the order of the heavens, and that we needed to find you. They said that only by working together we could stop the war." "I see. Did they say or do anything else before they left?" I asked, addressing Kirika. "They gave us new Kamika rings," Kirio muttered, still staring out the window. "Well," I said, standing, "I guess that makes us allies." I held my hand out to Kirio, and, grudgingly, he took it. "I guess."