Ranma No More

by Dani Yanega

WARNING: Very Dark fic Ranma's visit to Jusenkyo changes his life and that of the world forever.

14. Chapter 14

Ranma 1/2:

Ranma No More

Alternate History

By: Dani Yanega

(Dani: Legend is listed in Profile. My profile is also where I will address specific questions or issues that readers ask about.

I do not own many of the Characters in this story though some are mine all the KNOWN characters belong to those who originally created them. Thxs.

Please also NOTE I write Alternate Universe (AU) stories whether they are crossover or not. The AU applies to ALL characters. Thus this will make them OOC to the original Story and I like it that way. So if you plan to comment that Akane is not like that sorry I write her like I like to. This goes for all the characters it makes the story more fun for me to write that way. Got to have some antagonist and some friends :D)

Chapter Fourteen

Ran Koh sat on the plateau outside her lab. She sat close to the edge and looked down as her legs hung over the edge and swung idly back and forth. She could not see the ground since low clouds covered the lower portion of the mountain. Next to her was the staff that Setsuko had given her and each of the Light Warrior leaders. Though she did not know it, Ran Koh could feel the magical power of the Gray Monks on or in the staff. She saw the other Light Warrior leaders could as well. She smiled as they had all come a long way since the first day they met. She took a deep breath and stared out at the horizon. She watched, as the sun sat it was beautiful especially since it was above the clouds. The entire top of the clouds looked like a strange new world as it changed colors to match the descending sun. There were hills and valleys that were shaded to lend it depth.

As she stared out over the horizon, her vision clouded over as she thought about what they decided in the meeting. She could not believe she wanted the monks to come so she could validate the opinion as to why there have been no attacks for the last few weeks or so. She slowly rose to her feet and headed into her lab. Her staff thumping with each step she took. She smiled as Setsuko had agreed to teach them her family's school on the use of the 'Koutati School of the Blazing Staff'.

When she entered the laboratory, she was met by Cali. She picked up the small kitten and turned her over on her back like a baby. As Ran Koh walked back into the main room she was still tickling the little cat's stomach. She looked up at the laughs of Ryoga, La Si, and Calcoridan. She shook her head with a wry smile as she had not wanted Ryoga and La Si to come but she was happy they were here. She smiled as Calcoridan was quickly reading tomes and scrolls. He wanted to finish what he had been searching for when the meeting interrupted his work.

"Is time dinner! La Si make to good meal!" Calcoridan looked up with a bright smile as he rose and headed toward the table for the meal.

"Have you found what you were looking for Calcoridan?" Ryoga asked as he helped La Si serve the meal.

"Not quite but I am close. I think the hypothesis that Alex and Ukyo had worked out may be correct though there has never been this type of reentry if you will for 'He Who Devours the Light'. None of the previous light Warriors had ever gotten as close as the last ones did in almost killing him." Calcoridan said as he took a bite of the lamb stew.

"It makes sense. Since none of his generals are strong enough yet to put him together and before they can they have to recreate the two missing generals? He had over extended himself. With two attacks, so close together he was draining his awakening generals. Then to make one a double attack at once may be that prolonged their awakening and weakened 'He Who Devours the Light'. This is very good stew, La Si. I would like the recipe." Calcoridan continued after taking a few bites of his dinner as she blushed happily.

"I would still feel more comfortable about the hypothesis if the monks could confirm it." Ran Koh said as she helped herself to a second bowl of stew.

"Yes I will have to agree with you there, my dear. There is one thing we have to consider though. They may not know for sure either don't forget this the first time anything like this has happened before." Calcoridan said as he too took a second helping neither noticed the bright smile on La Si or the proud smile on Ryoga's face.

"Since it is getting late Calcoridan I want you to stay here! The two rooms up there are mine and Ryoga's you can choose any of the others we have here." Ran Koh said as she rose and took her bowl to the carved out basin to wash it out then decided better of it she put a couple of spoonfuls of the stew in it and then placed it on the floor for Cali.

"I don't want to put you out my dear." Calcoridan said as he shook his head.

"Sorry can't hear you. The blue, white, or green draped rooms are available. You know Ryoga we might want to consider enlarging some of those smaller caves for extra rooms. With the breaking point we can add the fire alcoves." Ran Koh said as she looked at some of the unused caves, as they were too small. Calcoridan and Morboshi sensei had emptied them all out and stacked them in corners near the bookcases for ease of access.

"That might be a good idea since the Light Warriors meet here for more privacy we can extend the walkway to them." Ryoga said as he rubbed his chin with his left hand.

La Si looked at almost over a hundred or so small caves over the larger entrances that went to the storage and larders as well as over the large cave that went to the shower like area. Then she turned to the wall that led to the door and saw more of the small caves some very close to the others. She raised an eyebrow as she thought of what could be done with all the little caves to make them useful.

"Husband and Sister right! Can work on while here if not bother Calcoridan?" La Si said, as she wanted to help.

"No not at all I am use to lots of noise back home. I work better when other things are going on." He said with a smile and put stew in his bowl then as Ran Koh did he put it on the floor for the kitten, though Cali was just playing in the food now since she was full.

Calcoridan moved back to the tomes while Ryoga, La Si and Ran Koh began taking measurements. Some rooms were really too small to use as they were but there was either to much or not enough space between some of them and their neighboring caves around them to enlarge them. The three decorators decided to turn those small ones into a larger one by combining it with the smallest of its neighbors. When those rooms were, done Ran Koh used her magic to move the doors to the center and close off the unneeded part of the entrances. By the time they all went to bed, Calcoridan had found what he wanted and Ran Koh had about twenty-five or so new bedrooms, which she needed to get doors for and furniture. They were also able to create about ten to twelve larger storage or workrooms, which would help in either storing tomes or scrolls or give them workshops for their hobbies to make money to support themselves.

(l)l)l)

Akane walked down the street her hands stuffed in the pockets of her gray slacks. Her yellow jersey fluttered slightly in the gentle breeze. Her psychologist had talked with the school and she could start again after the weekend. She was happy to be going back, though it was still at the library in Tomobiki. She had made great strides according to her doctor but he felt it was a temporary change. That she was holding back and ready to return to the way she was before. She had wanted to bash him into the ground for saying that. She would have if she had access to her mallet.

She stopped and stared at the gate to her home and realized he was correct. She had calmed considerably. She actually rethought her anger after reacting. She however would have to agree, as her anger at his comment pointed out it was not a deep down change only a surface change to allow her to quit therapy. She would have bashed him before she had a chance to calm down. She sighed as the faces of Nabiki and Kasumi floated through her mind's eye. They were the reason she was doing this! She wanted her sisters back and not afraid of her. She sighed and headed toward the gate to her home.

She pushed the gate opened and closed it behind her. She moved toward her front door. As she did so she wondered, what Mrs. Ogata had fixed for supper. She frowned as the new housekeeper refused to allow her anywhere, near the kitchen. She had cleaned it before she came to work for them. She did not know her last meal somehow had gotten away and was hiding behind the stove. She did not know Mrs. Ogata had a sword space. She wondered if she would teach her how to get swords instead of mallets. Then she cringed as an image of herself enraged had cut off the head of her sisters.

As she entered the house, she smelled chocolate chip cookies and her mind drifted back to when her mother was still alive and she would smell them as she came in from play. She took off her shoes and padded silently toward the kitchen. She peeked around the door and Mrs. Ogata was just finishing moving the warm cookies to a plate with teacups and a glass of milk.

"Go sit down Akane-Chan I will bring them to the table." The woman never turned around, Akane started to wonder how she knew that it was her when a flash of light brought her attention to the only window in the kitchen and that it looked out at the gate.

Mrs. Ogata stood at just about two inches above five feet. She had gunmetal gray hair she wore in a tight severe bun just at the top of the back of her head. Her eyes were a dark amber color and were set wide on either side of a long straight nose. Her nose ended over a pair of medium thin lips. Her face was centered in a square jaw that was a soft square. She was plump and maybe twenty or thirty pounds overweight.

Mrs. Ogata was wearing a navy dress that was belted just above her natural waist with a two-inch wide belt (Dani: Got to LOVE TLC's 'What Not to Wear' with Stacy and Clinton). The dress buttoned down the front and Mrs. Ogata kept the top two buttons unbuttoned. It however showed nothing of her ample breast. The bodice of the dress was pleated with about five pleats on either side of the silver lace like buttons. The skirt was an 'A' line skirt that went to about an inch below her knees. On her feet she wore black oxford tie shoes with a low heel of just about three quarters of an inch.

Akane sighed and padded softly into the living room. She saw her father at the shoji board playing the game by himself. His heart was no longer in the game since he threw out the panda. Akane walked over to her father and knelt next to him. He wrapped his arm around his daughter's shoulders and pulled her into a one-arm hug.

"Cookies are ready!" Mrs. Ogata said as she smiled at the tender moment between the father and daughter.

The two Tendos moved to the table and enjoyed the cookies and telling Mrs. Ogata how good they were. She smiled and bowed then returned to her household duties before starting to prepare their dinner. Akane frowned slightly as she looked at the plate of cookies. Soun watched her then the glint of light drew his attention back to his beloved Kimiko's ring. Soun reached out and took her hand with the ring. He looked down at the ring longingly and brushed his thumb over the diamond.

Then with speed born of desperation, he grabbed the ring and tried to remove it ignoring the scream of Akane. She had nothing to worry about the Light Warrior who placed the protection on it said only she could remove it. She just feared for the retribution the ring would give at his attempt. The retribution was quick and strong. Akane watched in horror as the ring shot a bolt of lightning at her father's chest sending him back into his shoji game.

Akane ran to her father followed closely by Mrs. Ogata who came running into the dining room at Akane's scream. Akane leaned over her father and sighed with relief to find him still alive. She picked up the cup of cooling tea and threw it in her father's face. Soun sputtered and sat up. He winced at the pain in his chest and looked down to see a scorch mark that went from one side of his torso to the other.

"Daddy how could you! I told you my ring was to protect me and could not be removed!" Akane stared down at her father betrayal written on her face.

"I just wanted to hold it daughter just for a few minutes." Soun said as he continued to stare at the ring on Akane's hand.

"At what cost daddy? You want me to become part of the dark force you're fighting just so you can hold an inanimate object mother never got the chance to wear!" Akane was getting angry and began to see a side of her father that she hated and had repressed for years.

"I would have given it back daughter." Soun explained then jerked at the slap his daughter gave him.

"IT WOULD HAVE BEEN USELESS THEN DADDY! IT COULD NEVER HAVE THE PROTECTION SPELL PUT BACK ON AND I WOULD FALL TO THE MANIPULATION OF 'HE WHO DEVOURS THE LIGHT' AND PROBABLY END UP KILLING YOU AND MY SISTERS FOR HIM!" Akane stormed off up the stairs toward her room.

"Daddy you will have to decide, am I more important than this ring? If you feel not I will move out." Akane turned and headed back to her room tears flowed down her face.

"I just wanted to hold the ring for a little while!" Soun said quietly as he stared at where the ring use to be.

Mrs. Ogata looked down at the man wondering if taking this job was a good idea. She decided that for Akane-Chan's sake she would stay to act as a buffer between this man's idiocies. She scowled down at the unresponsive man and moved back toward the kitchen. She then turned and headed up the stairs to Akane's room. She paused outside the door. As she heard doors and drawers, slamming shut. She knocked lightly and waited. She jumped slightly when Akane threw opened the door to glare at her. Though, her expression quickly changed as she stared into the concerned face of Mrs. Ogata.

"Yes Mrs. Ogata may I help you?" Akane asked as she turned and headed back into her room the housekeeper close behind her, as she closed the door behind them.

"I just wanted to make sure you were alright dear. I don't understand much of what happened but I understood enough to know your ring is protection against the evil invading our homes." Mrs. Ogata said as she pointed to the glittering diamond.

"It is just against his getting into my mind and controlling me." Akane said absently as she twisted the ring on her finger.

"Protection is protection dear. I will help run interference with your father if you like. You should not have to be forced from your home." Mrs. Ogata told a shocked Akane.

"Why?" Akane asked not understanding why she would do this.

"I lost my daughter many years ago. I mean she is still alive but because I did not support her against her, stepfather she left and I have not heard from her since. I don't even know where she is. I just pray it is somewhere safe." Mrs. Ogata's eyes brimmed with tears that did not fall.

"I am sorry Mrs. Ogata. I guess if you can help keep daddy from doing stupid things I could...would like to stay." She told the older woman her head bowed as she stared at her feet.

"Then together we will make sure he finally grows up and takes responsibility for what he does and the way he acts, just as you are now learning to do." Mrs. Ogata told the young girl who snapped her head back up to see a proud smile on the older woman's face.

"Ho...How did you know?" Akane asked her.

"Dear all who live in Nerima knows of your temper tantrums and violent behavior. It was only because you were seeing a psychologist that I agreed to work for you and your father. But to me you are not the only one who needs to see one. It is funny though until six months or so ago you were really not that bad." The older woman said as she moved closer to Akane and gave her a grandmotherly hug then with her last statement left the room with a shrug of her shoulders.

Akane started to get angry at the audacity of this woman but as it had been over the last couple weeks, her anger seemed to fade as quickly as it rose. The fact that she was being hugged by this woman made her feel safe and for some strange reason loved. She closed her eyes and she could almost believe her mother was holding her again. She slowly opened her eyes as she realized though it was a nice fantasy it was still just that a fantasy. She gently pulled from Mrs. Ogata's embrace.

"Thank you Mrs. Ogata, but I am beginning to realize I don't deserve your praise. I have found myself fighting my anger rising but since I have been seeing my psychologist and had the help of the Light Warrior I have found I put my wants and desires ahead of everyone. I even went as far as trying to attack my sisters for insults when there was none. *SIGH* I don't really understand it too much I mean like you said until a few months or so ago I didn't behave _that_ badly." Akane said as she lowered her head.

She hid her tears of pain, guilt, and loneliness that had welled in her eyes. She then felt Mrs. Ogata as she again pulled her into a tight embrace. She felt as one of the elderly woman's hands stroked her hair as she rocked her methodically. When Mrs. Ogata felt Akane relax she pulled back slightly still keeping her hands on Akane's shoulders and looked into the tear fill chocolate brown eyes before her.

"Don't believe that child I think you and your sisters need to talk. You need to meet at a neutral place and really listen to them and tell them how you feel. If you are truly keeping your anger in check they will listen to you now." Mrs. Ogata told the broken youngest Tendo.

"Do you really think so?" Akane asked as her eyes shone with hope as the woman nodded.

"Yes dear I do. Once you three work out your problems then you three should seriously think about having a few family sessions and _include_ your father." She smiled conspiratorially at the young Tendo who tentatively smiled back.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Ran Koh, Ryoga, and La Si prepared to leave. Calcoridan rummaged quickly around the desks that were on the main floor, Cali batting at the tips of his wings as he sorted through the piles of papers on the desks. The three warriors watched him confused as he mumbled under his breath as he went through the papers. They jumped as he pulled out a piece of paper with excitement.

"AH HA! Finally I thought I lost this." Calcoridan said as he moved toward the three fighters, Cali hanging from a tip of one of his wings he never noticing except as he subconsciously made the wing move slightly.

"Ran Koh dear, we found this spell a while back and kept forgetting to get you to cast this spell." He said as he handed the paper to her Ryoga and La Si looking over her shoulder.

"An auto Light spell?" She asked at a quick glance.

"No Ran Koh look farther down it has an on and off command!" Ryoga said as he pointed farther down the page.

"HHHHUUUMMMM, well bro you want to do this for all the areas before we leave or just the areas Calcoridan needs?" Ran Koh asked him as she read the spell more closely.

"I think you and I can do it for all the areas we use here, just in case he and Morboshi-sensei need to use them, ok Calcoridan?" Ryoga asked as he turned to the Phoenix Librarian only to find him back at the desk going through the tomes.

"*GIGGLE* I guess it will be ok come on Ryoga let's get this done it will be nice not to have keep replacing the torches. Hey La Si want to help?" Ran Koh said as she moved to the center of the room then turned to her sister as La Si smiled and nodded.

"So we are going to use the torches for the auto light sources?" Ryoga asked, as he looked over the spell La Si looking at the ancient text as she leaned against his shoulder and pulled out her wand.

"Yes I think they will work pretty well and we can always add more if needed." Ran Koh said as the three magic users, two sorcerers and one wizard.

They began to magically to alter the torches in her entire laboratory so that they would light with a single command and shut off as well. She set it up so each room had its own command. They were simple and easy to remember. They were based on the room type they would do the sleep chanbers later encase the others don't want an auto light in their rooms.

(l(l(l)l)l)

After a few hours, the three finally finished the three of them looked around the lab to see if they had gotten all the torches. Calcoridan watched as La Si jumped into the arms of her husband as he spun her around. She did not think she could cast that high a level spell but was happy to know she could. As Ryoga spun her, both laughed excitedly.

"HAHAHAHAHA! C'mon we need to get back before mom gets hysterical." Ran Koh laughed as she headed out to leave as she left a sheet of paper with Calcoridan a list of the commands for each of the rooms.

"Ran Koh! Ryoga! I need another favor." Calcoridan told them as they stopped and turned to the Phoenix scholar.

"What do you need Calcoridan?" Ryoga asked as they faced him.

"I need you to summon the Light Warriors. What I have to say will only affect you Ran Koh, Samuel, and Alex. However after I tell you what you need to know your battle strategy will change drastically." The birdman stared deep into the confused and fear filled eyes of the three teens, Ran Koh nodded.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Alex was walking slowly his hand held tightly in Taj's hand. As they walked, Taj rested her head on his shoulder. They slowly walked around the lake in the park. The Light Warriors seemed to be the only ones that still used the park. However, the city sanitation crews had the park back to pristine condition. Though the residents feared, another attack would come again at the park. They rounded the last turn around the lake and headed back toward the entrance to head back to the apartment building.

"I wish the other people of Tokyo and surrounding areas would start using the park again." Taj said as she lifted Alex's arm over her head to have him wrap it around her shoulders.

"Yes but they fear 'He Who Devours the Light' will attack here again." Alex said as he smiled down at the top of Taj's head.

"I guess so." Taj said sadly as Alex tightened his grip on her.

"Taj, have you given any more thought to my proposal? I know you want to wait until this business is settled but I can't. I mean any one of us could be killed in the next attack and I don't want to die without making you my wife. Then there is the fact we could be fighting for centuries." Alex told her keeping his ability to read her and others thoughts and emotions under tight control.

"I have, I would have said no Alex but after seeing how happy Ryoga and La Si are and still able to fight and protect the innocents I...I would love to become your wife!" Alex whooped as he turned and swept Taj up into his arms spinning her around as he kissed her.

The two Light Warriors were in a passionate kiss when the voice of Ran Koh broke through. They continued to kiss Alex not wanting to let go afraid Taj's agreement was just a dream. They did stop when Ran Koh's voice called them to the laboratory for an emergency Light Warrior meeting. Alex lowered his fiancée to the ground as he broke the kiss. They laughed as Ran Koh's voice broke in again.

{"Hey! Alex, Taj about _damn_ time!"} Ran Koh disappeared and the two lovers laughed as they headed to 'The Yankee Trader' to meet up with the other warriors.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Alex and Taj reached the loading dock of Michael's store to be knocked over by a large Siberian tiger cub that was almost an adult. He looked down at them as if asking them questions. Taj laughed as she reached up and scratched the tiger's ears. Alex gently pushed the big cat away and helped his beloved up from the floor of the loading dock.

"Well is it?" They all turned to see the other Light Warriors as they realized they understood Ran Koh's last comment though she never said what it meant.

"Yes Taj finally agreed to be my wife." Alex said as he hugged her close to him.

"So is that the reason for the meeting? So we can plan your wedding?" Martina asked as she smiled sadly, as she wished she could find her true love.

"No I don't think so. Why don't we get going to find out? Did anyone let the Elders and Nodoka know?" Alex asked as everyone boarded the converted school bus that Ran Koh purchased outright for them to use in these cases.

She just left it with Michael so if he needed to use it he could. If the Joketsuzoku Village needed it, they could call him for it. Everyone loaded into the red copper, white gold and black silver painted bus including Sera. They were going to try and get him to go home but he sat down between the two front padded seats behind the driver and growled menacingly at anyone that tried to make him move. Michael laughed and scratched his head as he moved to shut his door. He paused when a blue streak zipped in. The floor of the bus had been raised so the seats could be folded into them if they needed the space. They had it set up so each seat could fold into the floor individually. This allowed passengers and cargo to be put in side the bright sunny yellow interior of the bus.

"Well I guess we have another stowaway. I called the Joketsuzoku Village." Michael said as he finally shut his door before any other cats decided they wanted to come.

"How are we going to get them up there? Our flying members can't carry them they might fall off. I don't know about the rest of you I am just mastering the flight technique and learning to carry more weight." Anna asked as she started petting Blue as he crawled into her lap.

They had all noticed that the cats tended to go to Ukyo and Anna more than they did to the other Light Warriors. Megan was also a cat magnet but not as much as Anna and Ukyo. Ran Koh explained that, it was because of their curses. They sensed the cats within them. Ran Koh and Ryoga had tried to teach Anna, Megan, and Ukyo the cat-fist in their altered forms but they could not seem to pick it up. It might be because they were not real cats and lacked the natural feral instincts of the cat. They however were still trying.

"Well those of us that have access to magic now we can use flight spells." Ukyo said as she reached over and petted Blue in Anna's lap.

"I...I haven't got that spell down yet." Anna said as she looked around glad to see she was not the only one.

"Well if your animal form is a flyer you can shift but we need to get you to practice more. Your cursed forms may be more effective in a fight but if we can fly without having to break our concentration between flights and fighting we may be more effective." Samuel said as he slapped Roberto's back.

"Well since I can't fly magically either I will carry those that have a non-flying curse form. Though I can only carry three or four." Jasmine said.

"Well I don't think there are that many but those of you having trouble with any spells talk with Samuel, Ran Koh and myself we need to get you up to speed and fast. I don't think this lull can last much longer." They all nodded as Michael pulled up next to the mountain base where Ran Koh built her lab.

"You know I heard Ran Koh and Ryoga talking and they have been working on a chi based flying technique. I don't know if it is ready for others to be trained in but they may be close. They also have been working on a lightning chi blast as well that can have the level raised and lowered. For those of you who aren't able to do magic may be able to do that." Joshua told the group.

"We will ask when we get there." Alex suggested, as he looked excited.

As they got out of the new bus they walked toward the base of the mountain as Samuel and Alex cast an intricate illusion spell to hide and protect the bus. As they moved to the rest of warriors, they noticed they were all standing on a flat stone that looked like a table. They moved toward it and sensed Ran Koh's magic on the stone. It was placed as if it was a natural part of the landscape but they knew it was not as it was not there the last time they were there.

Samuel and Alex joined the rest of the Light Warriors, the two cats, and they then cast the spell of flight though the stone had barely moved. They looked at the other warriors that could do the spell and all nodded and cast the flight spell. The stone slowly rose up the side of the mountain. When they reached the plateau of Ran Koh's lab, the stone moved over past where the entrance was and landed. Everyone disembarked and stared at the stone waiting to see if would go back down to the base of the mountain. They watched for several minutes when the voice behind them rang out making them all jump.

"I didn't think that slab was that interesting." They turned to find Ryoga leaning against the opening to the cave a giggle behind them told them La Si was there as well.

"HA HA HA HA!" Rufino said as they moved into the cave.

The first change that struck them was the torches no longer had a flame on them to give off light they glowed on their own. When they entered the main room, they looked around and noticed that some of the real small caves that were high up the walls were now bigger or combined to make them bigger. There were now another twenty-five or so new bedrooms. They also noticed mix in between the new rooms were larger caves to large for bedrooms there seemed to be ten to twelve of those.

"Michael I am going to need some more bedroom sets." Ran Koh said as she entered from the cave where she had the larder. She placed a tray of fruit on the table that already had a pot of steaming soup, bowls, spoons, teacup, tea, and bread.

They all sat down confused and were startled that Calcoridan was already at the table going over a tome. They slowly all began to sit down. Ran Koh dished up soup for everyone figuring they, should eat something first as it may be a while before they could leave. If she had to, she would fly to the drapery store to get drapes and spring rods so they could close off the other rooms. Though there were no beds, yet the others could use sleeping bags if needed or maybe futons.

"Let us eat first then we can talk about what Calcoridan found." Ryoga told them as he and La Si helped serve the others.

"I see we have some playmates for Cali." The growls caused Ryoga and Ran Koh to look over and saw Blue and Sera playing with the small cat.

"Yeah they kind of didn't give us a choice." Michael said as he watched them.

"That is ok Cali loves the company, and it will give Calcoridan's wings a break." Ran Koh said with a giggle in her voice.

They all asked about the lights, rooms, and the three teens explained that Calcoridan found a spell to turn the torches into the glowing lights and it was a permanent spell. They just have to say the name of the room with 'lights on' or 'lights off' and the lights will come on or off. They told them that each room's name was now carved just inside each room by the door like a light switch. Ran Koh handed copies of the spell to everyone so if they wanted to learn it they could. She then said if tney wanted the spell for their bedrooms they woild need to put something in there for the light spell to work.

The conversation over lunch was about Alex and Taj's upcoming nuptials. They would talk to the minister that married Ryoga and La Si and see when he would be available. They hoped they could use the Joketsuzoku Village. La Si nodded her assent though she knew it was up to the elders she knew they would be insulted if they did not have the wedding there.

As the lunch, wound down everyone helped clean off the table to get ready for the meeting. They decided to wait until after the meeting for dessert to give them time to allow their stomachs to settle. Ran Koh just stacked the dirty dishes in the stone basin she used as a sink to be washed before they left. They then settled down and waited for Calcoridan to speak to them.

"Thank you all for coming. Now I know from what you have told us the Gray Monks do not recommend that we do a preemptive strike on this evil and his generals. I and Kiima have talked about this as she is our best strategist at Phoenix Mountain." Calcoridan stopped and took a sip of tea as for some reason his mouth was getting drier.

"We feel that a preemptive strike now might work, because of what happened to him in the last war. That was the first time that any of the generals were killed. He always splits himself between his generals to help protect him from anyone seeking to prevent his return." Calcoridan looked down at his notes as this sunk into the Light Warriors.

"What do you suggest?" Ran Koh asked hating that they could not attack the demons directly.

"Well that all depends. You see in going over the previous wars, I have found this war has a lot of firsts." He smiled at the confused looks of the Light Warriors and La Si.

"Let me explain then I will tell you Kiima and my idea." Calcoridan wanted them to understand why he and his second felt the way they did.

"The first thing that happened this time that did not the last times is the introduction of the Neko-Ken. Second the cats and other animals that now fight with us not to mention that the cats now use the Neko-ken. A fact I am sure is not sitting well with the Amazon elders or the Japanese government." Calcoridan said as he looked at Ran Koh and Ryoga with a sly smile.

"The next difference and this is a big one is the fact that you are teaching the light warriors and Amazons magic if they are able to learn. Which for the Amazons will help keep the Musk under control for all of us in the valley? Then there is the fact that all of Jusendo Valley is fighting in this war for the first time. I have also sent a missive to Saffron with a recommendation to talk with the Amazons and get a treaty in place. That could only serve to help us survive. Then together we can work to get the Musk to join the Jusendo Alliance." Calcoridan smiled at the name he had created.

"I like that but you will need to get the Amazons to eliminate their prideful laws or anytime either your or the Musk accidently beat an Amazon they will force marriage or death. Not to mention if they learn your techniques outside the scope of the contract...!" Ryoga said as he left the thoughts hanging remembering that information from Ra Koh as they tried to find a way to protect him from the Amazon Laws.

"Yes we are working on that as well Ryoga. The copy of the law books here in the laboratory was helpful; they allowed me to let Lord Saffron know of them so we could work out compromises for them getting rid of them." Calcoridan continued as he rechecked the notes he had with him.

"Now those are the most powerful and most significant changes. I also found in the tomes several references to the Warrior Stone. It is a magical crystal the size of a small melon that has great powers in allowing the Light Warriors to move their entire army anywhere in the world, wherever a battle may be." Calcoridan was cut off at the outburst.

"WHAT! ARE YOU KIDDING?" The six voices of the Light Warriors rang out.

"No 'He Who Devours the Light' will start attacking in other places in Japan and around the world. Especially if he thinks, you do not have the Warrior Stone. In the last war, the controller of the crystal, with the help of the other two magical leaders altered its magic so that he could use it as a weapon. That was how they were able to kill two generals." Calcoridan told them as they all sat down contemplative looks on their faces.

"So we need to find this crystal. How does it move an army?" Ukyo said more as a comment then as a question.

"It enhances the magic natural to the planet and uses the ley lines. We can go over that later. I also found several maps showing the ley lines so we can keep one here and at the apartment or the Joketsuzoku Village. Now we cannot find the gem it only appears to one of the three magical leaders of the Light Warriors, but I am afraid we may not have its use this time. The crystal shattered into three pieces as it destroyed the two demons. So we are looking for three...!" Calcoridan stopped as suddenly three white crystals with rainbow streaks the size roughly of a large goose's egg appeared in front of Samuel, Alex, and Ran Koh.

Everyone stared at the three pulsating crystals before each of the magical Light Warriors. They then looked up at each of them and saw similar smirks on their faces. Ryoga reached out and picked up the crystal in front of his soul mate. He felt the beating of the crystal as it pulsed. As if it had, a heart beat. He then looked up seeing the other soul mates doing the same thing. It was then that the magical leaders took their soul mates empty hand then with their other empty hand joined with each other completing a circle. The flash that followed knocked the rest of the warriors La Si and Calcoridan back with shouts of surprise.

They turned their heads from the rainbow glowing light as it filled the center of the laboratory. Martina grabbed La Si as she tried to run to her husband her face full of worry. As La Si struggled to get free, she had not realized that the Light Warriors were so strong. She subconsciously figured they had extra private training with Ran Koh and Ryoga.

"LET LA SI GO! HUSBAND NEED LA SI!" She screamed as she tried to pull from Martina.

"No Lace he doesn't he is the soul mate and co-leader of the Tiger sect. This will only make us stronger against this evil. Let the process finish!" She told the young girl calmly even though she still struggled to get free it was not as urgent.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Akane sat nervously at the corner table near the window. She watched the people as they hurried by the small diner type restaurant. She had heard Juuban had been having Yuma attacks but they had the Sailor Scouts to protect them. She wondered if the Scouts would join the Light Warriors. Akane sighed deeply as she realized now if it was not for 'He Who Devours the Light' she might have actually been accepted and trained. She rested her right elbow on the table and placed her hand under her chin as she continued to stare out the window. She wondered if her sisters were actually going to show up. She really did not wait for them to reply when she asked them to meet her.

Akane turned as a cup of tea had been placed in front of her with a menu she smiled and picked up the menu. This way she would at least be ready to order when Nabiki and Kasumi joined her. The ring on her right middle finger sparkled in the sunlight as she stared at it for a moment and watched as it sparkled. She jumped when she felt two gentle hands as they rested on her shoulders. She looked up to see Nabiki and Kasumi staring at her and then the ring.

"Hello little sister I have missed you. I see you started wearing mother's ring." Kasumi said as she bent down and hugged her little sister Akane hugged Kasumi back tightly as she felt a lot of the pain being released.

"I have too. Please sit and I will explain as best I can." Akane said and was surprised when Nabiki hugged her tightly as well.

Akane reached up and hugged Nabiki just as tightly as she had hugged Kasumi. Her tears began to flow as she realized what she had done to her family no not done, almost done. She knew they would never move back to the house but she hoped they would no longer avoid her and force her to stay away from them. She needed her sisters she needed their love and protection especially since her father seemed to be going nuts. Maybe Mrs. Ogata was right they _all_ needed to come to therapy to get over their mother's death.

As Nabiki released her sister and started to sit, she saw as rage flashed in the youngest Tendo's eyes. She started to get up to leave when Kasumi placed a hand on her arm and nodded toward Akane. Nabiki was surprised as the anger remained in her eyes but she saw fear and pain there as well. Nabiki slowly sat back down and was handed a menu from the waitress as she had joined them. Kasumi and Nabiki ordered drinks and then like Akane looked over the menu.

(l(l(l)l)l)

"So sis why are we here?" Nabiki asked as she looked at the plate of food in front of her before digging in to it.

"First, I need to apologize to you both. I know you won't move back to the house though I really want you too. I just hope we can now get back to being sisters, as we should. My sessions are going well though I still get aggressively angry I have been able to control it." Akane told them as she saw the uncertainty on their faces.

"Mrs. Ogata thinks we need to start having family therapy to help us all heal." Akane looked at them her eyes full of pleading.

"What guarantee do we have you won't go back to the way you were especially if the spirit of Ran Koh's great grandmother releases your meager skill." Nabiki asked purposely belittling her supposed skills.

"*SIGH!* I hope by the time I am done with the doctor I will be able to learn to use my skills like the Light Warriors and maybe even learn to cook. Right now Mrs. Ogata won't let me anywhere near the kitchen." Akane said as she bowed her head and played with the food on her plate.

"Akane why else are we here?" Kasumi knew something else happened especially if she had started wearing their mother's ring that they each received from their father after her death.

"After I was kicked out of school, an evil voice started talking to me. Let me rephrase that it started talking to me while I was awake. When it told me it could give me powers equaled to Ran Koh's I was excited. I wanted to destroy her. I wanted to make her suffer for all she had done to me." Akane raised her hand as she saw both Nabiki and Kasumi as they opened their mouths to contradict their little sister.

"Let me finish please. The voice then told me I could destroy everyone that had wronged me. It told me I could kill you and daddy for your betrayal of me. I was so terrified after my session and yes I talked to my doctor about it. I ran to the Nekohanten where I found Alex and Taj. I told them what had happened. He then took mother's ring and cast a protection spell on it for me. It is not a physical protection but a mental one that will prevent 'He Who Devours the Light' from trying to manipulate or possess me into his service." Akane looked at her two sisters and saw the fear and disbelief on their faces.

"You have to admit that I was never really as as bad as I had been acting before this all started. It started I guess a month or two before all, this Light Warrior stuff started remember?" Akane asked them as they thought about it then nodded.

"I will admit I was a spoiled brat before but I _never_ tried to attack either of you!" Akane pushed wanting them to figure out where she was going.

"Then he started trying to coerce you before this started?" Kasumi asked as she reached out and gently rubbed the diamond in the ring.

"I think so, yes. I am still responsible in part, because I so wanted to be the best I didn't fight against his intrusion. The problem I have is this. When I told daddy I told him that the magic spell would protect me against any attempt of anyone trying to remove the ring or force me to remove the ring. If I remove the ring of my own free will the spell is broken and can't be put back on the ring." Akane told them as she stared at her sisters.

"Then that would allow that evil in to take you completely over!?" Nabiki asked as she stared at their mother's ring as an image of her ring crossed her mind.

"Yes, daddy tried for a second time to remove the ring yesterday. The ring jolted him with a bolt of electricity. He still didn't get it! He said he only wanted to hold it but he would not listen to me when I retold him what would happen. It was Mrs. Ogata that suggested I ask you for help to make him understand he can't remove the ring!" Akane put her chopsticks down on her uneaten meal and stared pleadingly at the only family left to her.

"Tell you what sis, you talk to your doctor, and set up a family session and I will make sure daddy is there." Nabiki said without even consulting Kasumi but she wanted this more than anything, she wanted her family back.

"Kasumi is that ok with you?" Akane wanted their help but she wanted it freely.

"Yes little sister it is fine with me. I am very proud of you! You have learned a lot and even after learning you were being manipulated you still insist on finishing your therapy. That shows you are finally growing up!" Kasumi took her little sister's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"Ok I see the doctor tomorrow, are there, any times that won't work for you?" Akane asked as her eyes showed the pain she had been hiding as it was mirrored in both Nabiki and Kasumi's eyes as well.

"Any time is fine with me as long as it is not during a battle." Kasumi told her little sister with a nod from Nabiki.

"Oh thank you so much and maybe when the doctor says I am ready you guys can help me become a better martial artist so I can help fight? I mean if the war is not over." Akane's tear streaked face looked back at her sisters hopefully.

"We don't know about that Akane. Some of the techniques we are learning belong to other people and it is their right to say who can learn their schools and who can't. However they might consider it if the Doctor says you can control your anger and aggressive behavior toward Ran Koh and the Light Warriors and are able to tell what, is delusion and what is not." Kasumi told her, the two older Tendo daughters watched as Akane's eyes flashed red with rage.

They watched as the rage diminished down to anger but watched surprised as she just nodded curtly. They smiled and ran around the table to either side of Akane and gave her an Amazon inspired glomp. This made her cry even harder as she tried to hug both her sisters at the same time.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Jessica watched the Joketsuzoku Village she had just gotten there as Samuel and about fifteen or so people left. She knew she would not be able to keep up with them. Therefore, she stayed in the alley across from the complex and watched as people came and went. She did not see anything exciting here that would cause the tribe Shaman heirs to leave and give up their rights. However, from the spattering of conversations, she had listen to over the past day or so it seemed the threat was recuperating. She had decided she was going to get Samuel back and if she could, she would find a way to take down Tomas as well for interfering with her chance at happiness the first time.

Jessica watched as the man known to her as Daniel Randson ran from the complex in the direction Samuel and the others had gone. She frowned as she felt he needed to be brought down as well. She was formulating her plan and she hoped to instigate it this evening when the Light Warriors returned. She turned her attention back to the complex and continued to watch as people came and went. After about forty minutes, she turned and watched as Daniel came back very angry she smiled, as he must have missed catching the others.

As she waited, it grew darker. She frowned as she wondered if they would return tonight at all. She checked her watch and saw it was nearly nine o'clock. Her frown deepened, as she did not think she had been there that long at all. She rose from where she had been sitting and started to head out back toward her hotel. She would try again tomorrow. That was ok it would give her another day to plan how she was going to get back her only true love, at least that was what she believed.

(l(l(l)l)l)

As Jessica slipped out of the alleyway, she did not notice the face in the window in the apartment complex. As Tomas watched her leave, he smiled as he realized she would take care of the Ran Koh issue and this way he could truthfully say, he had nothing to do with Jessica's schemes to break Samuel from the Tiger Sect leader. His smile got even larger as he knew Samuel would want nothing to do with Jessica for her part in destroying his new relationship. This way he would not have to break them apart again once Jessica had done what he brought her here to do. He turned from the window and disappeared into his bedroom once she was gone from his sight.

(l(l(l)l)l)

As the light faded the Light Warriors, La Si, and Calcoridan rushed to their sides, they however could not move as the room filled with gray mist. They noticed that the mist started around the three stones that were still being held by Taj, Ukyo, and Ryoga. They watched as the stones had begun to float free from their grasp. The crystals floated between the leaders about a foot off the table. As the room watched, the crystals spun until they were finally able to become one again.

The spectators heard a noise from near the table. They focused on the six people around the table and saw each of the leaders were now holding the staffs given to them by Setsuko. The leaders of each sect then touched the top of their staffs to the crystal that was now one large crystal. They watched awe struck as the fractured crystal burst forth with bright white rainbow light again only brighter than before.

The main room filled again with the bright white rainbow light as the people around them watched. They had to turn their heads and hold a hand up over their eyes or in front of them to block the light. Still none could see what was happening. When the light finally disappeared, everyone ran to the leaders. They found their leaders still standing in the spots they were at the beginning of this process each held their staffs but the crystal was no longer on the table.

As they moved toward their leaders, a pulsing light drew their attention to Alex, Ran Koh, and Samuel's staffs. Each of the three crystal segments was now adhered to the top of their staffs. They were pulsing with life and it looked as if there was lightning flashing inside each crystal. To the others it looked like rainbow lightning. They then turned to the magical leaders' soul mates and stared at their staffs. Instead of the crystal on top of the staffs, the animal that denoted their team was now crystal and pulsed with life. Like the crystal on the other staffs, there were flashes of lightning inside each crystal animal. The lightning matched the colors of that team. They looked again at the magical leaders and saw their animal for their team was crystal like their soul mates. The crystal animals still followed the color scheme for male and female but they did not have the flashing lightning as that was provided by the pulsing crystal.

"What the hell just happened?" Jasmine said as she stepped forward and bent in close to one of the altered staffs.

"I don't know but I know now what the last leader to control the Warrior Stone had done to the crystal and I think we may be able to alter it again but we will have to do it together all six of us." Alex said as he looked at the stone now fused to the top of his staff as Ran Koh and Samuel nodded as they confirmed his statement.

"This time however with all of you who can do magic helping with the spell we will make the power in the crystal even stronger and maybe take out more if not all the generals and 'He Who Devours the Light'." Taj said as she watched her Phoenix spark with lightning.

The gasps of the team members of the Light Warriors drew their attention to the heads that peeked out from under the table. Ran Koh nearly collapsed, she watched as Cali and Blue jumped to the table while Sera placed his front paws on the table and stood on his hind legs. There was not a lot of difference only that now each simmered with a metallic iridescent glow.

For Cali and Sera since their colors was almost a perfect match for each of the team colors. There was a small difference. Instead of the orange, it was now red. Each of the three colors of now red, black and white had a metallic sheen that matched the different teams' metal. The red shimmered with copper, the white glittered with gold, and the black sparkled with silver. Blue was a bit different. His blue coat was now a sapphire blue with a shimmer of all three metals.

"What happened to my friends!?" Ran Koh asked but did not expect an answer but got it via a disembodied voice.

"They are now linked to the staffs. So when this war happens again they will be reincarnated to bring the animals back into the fight." The Light Warriors stared at the three animals and sighed with pity and anger.

"WHY...!" Ran Koh started but stopped at the hand of Ryoga on her shoulder.

"They're gone sister. I guess they felt it would be of great assistance to each of the next groups of warriors to have the animal leaders reborn to help in the fight against 'He Who Devours the Light'." Ryoga said as he leaned his forehead against Ran Koh and smiled sadly at her.

"I...I guess but they should have asked them!" Ran Koh said.

"Ran Koh their power and skill could be what wins this war wouldn't you want that same power and skill available to the next Light Warriors also?" Anna asked as she moved toward the Tiger Sect leaders she and Ryoga the first real friends she ever had.

"Yes I guess so." Ran Koh said as she reached out and stroked the fur of Blue.

"So do we want to take a break and go get _doors_ for the new rooms?" Joshua asked.

"Yes I need to get some air anyway." Ran Koh said as she headed toward the door but paused and turned to Calcoridan.

"May we go? Would it be ok to leave the cats here?" Ran Koh asked the birdman.

"Well yes now that the Warrior Stone oh, Stones are here we can go over its history when you get back. I would be delighted to have them as company." Calcoridan said as he shooed the Light Warriors away and headed back toward the books hoping to find more information on the new configuration of the Warrior Stone though he doubted there would be anything.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Ryoga's family reached the Hibiki Compound led by a group of six cats in front of them leading them to the compound. As they entered, they were surprised as all of their family was there. It had been the first time in a long time that they had all found the compound together. It was then they noticed their guides as they ran toward a large contingent of cats. They all smiled as they moved toward their family.

"Kazuhiko! What the hell is going on?" An elderly yet spry man asked as he walked up to Ryoga's father.

"Naoyuki, it is a long and terrifying story. Could you please tell everyone to follow the cats to the council chambers? Also tell them to concentrate on where they are going and not let their minds wonder." Kazuhiko told the elderly gentleman.

"I won't have to repeat that twice I am afraid the cats are very persuasive in that regard." He told his family member as he showed the claw marks on his upper arms and shoulders.

"Yes that they are Naoyuki that they are." Kazuhiko said as he led his flying pallet toward the council chamber his six cats returning to lead them there.

Naoyuki watched as they moved away, as they headed to the council room he just noticed the fact they had a flying pallet that they rode. He stood the same height as Kazuhiko at five feet ten inches. He had white hair and was sixty-five. Like all males of the Hibiki clan, he was very muscular and as hard as a mountain. Though were their hardness was a normal mountain Ryoga now was as hard as a diamond mountain. His eyes were amber and just a hint of the brown as his hair had once used to be was just at his temples. He looked similar to Ryoga's family but there were differences. He had a narrow elongated face with a matching long nose over a pair of thin lips.

Even though Ryoga's family were tired and a bit hungry what they brought the Hibiki compound was more important and life threatening especially since they never knew where they would be at any given moment and might find themselves in the middle of a demon battle. As they entered the council room Fumi, Takido, and Kariko took seats in the front row. Kazuhiko moved to the council table and took the center seat. When the rest of the Hibiki clan entered, the leader of the Hibiki clan was glaring at him but he sat down in the front row as the look of haunted pained and fear that filled Kazuhiko's eyes told him this was not a normal meeting.

"PLEASE EVERYONE SIT DOWN WE MAY NOT HAVE MUCH TIME!" Kazuhiko told the people milling around.

"We don't listen to you! You're not the clan lea...!" The Hibiki anger showed itself in many of the people there it was however cut off when the leader of the clan stood up his eyes blazed with rage.

"HE TOLD YOU TO SIT DOWN! NOW DO IT!" All the family stared at their clan leader then quickly took a seat.

"Thank you Sayaka." Kazuhiko told the head of his clan who just nodded for him to continue and sat down next to Kariko.

"HEY KAZUHIKO? Where's Ryoga?" Another man raised his hand as he looked around for the third child of Kazuhiko and Fumi.

"*SIGH!* That is what I am about to tell you now please let me get this out we may not have much time to prepare." He told them as another hand went up but went back down slowly at the enrafged glare from Kazuhiko.

Kazuhiko turned and glared down another man who started to rise. The man looked around the room for help but found none and began to sit back down. Kazuhiko looked at the head of the clan his eyes pleading for help Sayaka could only stare at him. Kazuhiko took another deep breath and looked to his family they all nodded and gave him a tentative smile. He stared as some of the stray cats entered the room and jumped into some of the laps around the room.

"First the cats that helped us get home needs fed after this meeting Fumi and I picked up several thirty pound bags on the way here. It was Ryoga that sent the cats." The murmur in the room started to grow again as Kazuhiko raised his hands to silence them.

"Has any of the spouses that do not have the curse been watching the news about what is happening in Nerima and parts of Tokyo near the Juuban, Tokyo border?" He looked around the room and saw that all the spouses unaffected by the Hibiki curse raised their hands.

"There is a demon waking that will destroy the world a group of fifteen warriors with magical powers and the ability to shift their shape have so far been able to beat back this demon's minions. Warriors from all over the world have been converging in Tokyo to help. I wanted to ask you Kazuhiko one of those fifteen warriors looked like Ryoga." A thin athletic man said as he looked at the distraught man.

"Get comfortable this is going to take a while. It was Ryoga he is the co-leader of the gold and white warriors or Tiger Sect. The other leader was trained in the Neko-ken...!" Kazuhiko paused at the gasp of horror from his family.

"I have met her that technique is now under control and when she and my son became soul bonded, and before you ask their not lovers. The Neko-ken got shared between them and they now can communicate with all cats." He paused as the outrage and disbelief filled the room until a voice of confirmation spoke up.

"He is telling the truth! It has been reported on CNN that the cats that fight in the battle are trained in the Neko-ken and that it was Ryoga and his co-leader that trained them." It was a woman with long cinnamon hair and brown eyes that had spoke.

"THEY TAUGHT THE CATS! WHAT ARE THEY F* ING NUTS!" Another male family member jumped up his rage over flowing.

"You might want to calm down cousin I believe some of the cats that Ryoga and Ranko sent out to bring you all home are Neko-cats. They need that skill they are fighting the demons as well!" It was not Kazuhiko that spoke but Fumi.

"Fumi, how could you allow Ryoga to continue to fight this war? Aren't you worried he will die?" One of the spouses Fumi never really liked because she felt herself better than the rest of the Hibiki clan.

"YES I AM FRIGHTENED I HAVE BEEN EVER SINCE I FOUND OUT! *SIGH!* Each day I wake up, each minute of every day, even in my dreams I fear for my baby. He however has a destiny to fulfill a destiny I wished to Kami-sama he never found! But if he does not fight them the _ENTIRE WORLD DIES_!" Fumi sat back down her tears flowed down her cheeks in torrents she never saw the smug look on the woman who asked the question but Sayaka had and he scowled.

"I am here to tell you how to fight these things because they may now be only in Tokyo and Nerima that does not mean they will stay there." Kazuhiko began trying to stem any more questions as he snarled at the arrogant woman.

"You cannot use normal swords or conventional weapons. If you severe a hand or leg it will just grow a new one and the severed limb will create a new demon. We recommend that you use your shurikens or belt swords. If you prefer a regular katana be sure to start practicing pushing chi into it." He looked at everyone in the room as he spoke.

"Sayaka I think you might want to offer the use of our hidden tunnels under the compound for the children of the surrounding area and those who can't fight. Those of our clan that live here can protect them while the rest of us go to fight to protect our friends and neighbors." Kazuhiko said as he looked at the leader of the clan.

"HOW ARE WE TO DO THAT YOU MORON WE GET LOST AT THE DROP OF A HAT!" An unseen voice from the back of the room shouted.

"Look around you, you idiot the cats have remained here after they got us home. Ranko and Ryoga have asked that they lead us so we can fight but not get lost. If any Hibiki clan member with the curse uses a cat then they will be able to fight. We will fight the demon even if he moves the battle elsewhere. I am not going to let my son fight a war that will affect the entire world alone!" Kazuhiko said as the cats purred loudly.

"Nor will I brother nor will I." Sayaka stood and moved toward his brother.

"I agree with Kazuhiko we will prepare the hidden rooms and tunnels below the compound to protect the children and non-combatants. I will contact the mayor's office in the morning. We need to start preparing our defenses now because I agree with my brother those demons won't stay where they are for much longer." Sayaka told the assembled family members.

The next four or five hours the clan spoke of what they could do, and everyone wanted to help. There was going to be training starting in the morning to figure how to infuse their katana and other weapons with their chi so it would work against the demons. They told of some of the people that Ryoga taught that technique to, had modified it to suit them and that they could use those modifications. As the time grew late, Kariko with some of the older children slipped out and began to feed the cats while the adults talked. They did not want to hear any more about the demons they wanted to be children for just a little longer.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Jessica stood in the alley again across from the Joketsuzoku Village. She frowned, as she had not seen Samuel through the restaurant window. As she watched, there were many customers. She had noticed the Amazon Emporium and wondered if they would sell some of her jewelry for her. She needed more money since she broke from Tomas. She frowned as several of the shamans entered the building. She quirked an eyebrow as she watched as a lavender haired teenager ran and hugged the stuffing out of one of the shaman it surprised her when he hugged her back. She smirked as Tomas was one of the shamans and she could see his anger at the closeness of the two.

[I see you still do not like when others become involved with those you feel unworthy, Tomas.] Jessica snarled as she watched Tomas.

Her eyes were full of anger, as the memory of Tomas forcing Samuel to marry another; it was the daughter of one of the other chieftains. The problem was she did not want to marry Samuel anymore then he wanted to marry her. She laughed for over an hour when Samuel took banishment rather than allow Tomas to run his life. She hung her head as a thought crossed her mind. He had not looked for her after he left the reservation. She sighed as she realized he did not love her the way she felt she loved him.

Jessica looked up and saw as the fifteen Light Warriors two cats and a tiger entered the complex. She frowned as her eyes landed on Samuel walking closely next to Ran Koh. She caught a glimpse of his eyes as he looked at her. Jessica's shoulders sagged as she realized if she tried to get him back, she would be as bad as Tomas. She then rose to leave. Her gaze one last time fell on Samuel and Ran Koh. She watched them closely. She could see they cared for each other deeply she wondered off handedly if she ever felt that a way about anyone she dated.

She stiffened as she noticed Daniel Randson entered the restaurant. She frowned as he pushed his way between Samuel and the girl he loved. She knew that now he loved her so very deeply. An evil grin adorned her face as she caught site of Daniel trying to take liberties that were not his right. She smiled as he suddenly bent over holding his stomach then fell hard on his back as the girl faster then she had ever seen a human move kicked Daniel's legs out from under him. She almost laughed aloud when she kicked him, sending him sliding across the floor, out of the Nekohanten and into the complexes main hallway. She walked away realizing Daniel was just after Ran Koh for the conquest no man in his right mind would stay to try and get a woman that made her intentions as clear as that. Jessica headed off toward her hotel she needed to think.

She wanted Samuel back that much she knew but could she do to him what Tomas had done to her. She walked her head bowed as she tried to think. She moved slowly and when she looked up, she found herself in the small park. She moved to a garden bench near the lake. She loved Samuel and whether she hated Tomas or not he had given her a chance to get him back. Tomas had set her up the same way, and now he was trying to do it to Samuel. If a scheme worked once it should work, again she figured though this time she was going to make some changes.

She was going to see if Samuel still loved her, she hoped he did. If he did not she would leave him and this, Ranko girl alone well she hoped she would. She however also knew that the tension between Daniel, Samuel, and the white haired girl could cost some innocents their lives. She felt not on Samuel or Ranko's part but on Daniel as he tried to win his conquest. She smiled as she rose from the bench. If there had been anyone in the park, they would have run and hid, as the smile on Jessica's face was reminiscent of a hungry great white shark.

(l(l(l)l)l)

When the Light Warriors returned to the laboratory those having trouble with the flight spell was flying a bit better. As Alex, Samuel and Ran Koh helped them work out the problems they were having. Now all they needed was to practice and the magic users made all the Light Warriors to come to them when having trouble much sooner than this time. They all agreed. They entered the cave still chatting away. They entered the main room Ryoga and Ran Koh where knocked to the floor with two cats and a tiger standing on their chests.

{MOMMA! POPPA! WHAT DID YOU BRING US!} The other sect leaders busted out laughing as Taj bent down and picked up Blue.

"My word you are just like children." Taj said as she talked to Blue not understanding the significance of what she was saying.

"You...you understood them?" Ryoga asked as he rose as Sera carrying Cali got off Ran Koh and him.

"Huh?" Taj asked as she turned still scratching behind Blue's ears.

"You told Blue he and the others were like children! What did he say?" Ryoga asked as he moved toward the Phoenix Sect leader but Taj was not the one to answer him.

"Momma! Poppa! What did you bring us?" The Tiger Sect leaders and rest of the light Warriors turned to Ukyo it had finally sunk in what the Tiger leaders meant.

"We understood them!?" Taj said as she looked down at Blue as he purred in her arms.

"I wonder if we can talk to all the cats like you guys." Alex said his eyes alight with excitement.

"I am not sure young Alex but I say the answer might be no." They all turned to a ragged looking Calcoridan.

"You getting any rest Calcoridan?" Martina asked as she hurried toward the cook fire and poured him some tea.

"Not much my dear got engrossed in the Warrior Stone lore. Thank you Martina my dear." Calcoridan said as Martina sat down a cup of hot tea next to him then placed her hand reassuringly on his shoulder.

"Why not?" Samuel asked as he petted Sera's neck.

"Well it is these three that will be reincarnated. The next Light Warriors will need to communicate with them. The Gray Monks can't guarantee that there will be another Neko-Warrior leader. So they fixed it so that when the staffs are turned over to the next set of Light Warriors they will be able to speak to the cats that have Sera, Blue and Cali's souls." Calcoridan said as he finished with a sip of tea.

"How do the Gray Monks know for sure? I mean this is the first time this has happened." Ryoga said as he wrapped his arm around La Si's shoulder.

"They don't know for sure you all will have to test it when you get back home. But I think it will be them that lead the animals and the only ones that need to be communicated with." Calcoridan said as he flipped through the pages of a small tome.

"What about what the last controller and other magical leaders did to alter the crystal?" Msu Tsu asked Alex.

"Once we melded with the crystal we got a vague idea how but I would feel better about doing it if I knew exactly what he and the others had done." Alex said as he pulled out his staff and stared at the glowing pulsing crystal.

"I started looking through the tomes of the last Warriors for any notes on what spell they added to the Warrior Stone. I have not found anything yet. When Nguyen gets here tomorrow, we will both start looking. If you can add a more powerful spell that will increase the power of the one they added a preemptive strike may work this time." Calcoridan said as he continued to look through the tomes.

"Well we will leave you alone and you will be staying again in the green room!? Oh and Calcoridan look in all the journals of all three magic users our counterparts all added to that spell which means if not done correctly our magic can either blow up or cancel each other out!" Ran Koh asked even though it was more of a statement then a question.

"Yes dear and thank you. Now why don't you get the doors up so these nice people can have a bit of privacy?" Calcoridan said as he pointed to the newly created bedrooms.

They all nodded and headed off. Calcoridan watched them for a few moments a whimsical smile on his face. He knew the life of pain and loneliness Ryoga and Ran Koh had led and to some extent Ukyo, Anna, and Mousse. He watched as they joked around and laughed with the other Light Warriors. Their being together was a horror he wished had never happened but it had. The good that came from it was a new loving family that every member mattered. Calcoridan jumped slightly when he felt the nip at the tip of his wing. He looked down to see Cali hanging off it again. He looked up and saw Sera and Blue curled up in front of the cooking hearth asleep.

"Well come on little one you can keep me company while I work." He rose and headed back to the bookcases that had more than doubled since the first day he started going through the tomes.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Jessica hung up the telephone, as she stretched out on her bed. The shark like smile had gotten bigger and more menacing. She turned and looked at the time and decided to go get something to eat as her stomach growled it wanted food. She decided now would be a good time to try the Nekohanten. She was going to let Tomas think he had won her over. As she sat up, she paused. Had he really won her into his conspiracy? Was she not going to try and get him back? She sighed heavily and rose to get ready. She took her bath supplies and headed into the bathroom for a quick shower.

Before going into the bathroom, she put her supplies just inside the bathroom on the sink then moved to her closet. She looked through her clothes and pulled out a hanger with the dry cleaner opaque plastic bag still over it. She hung it on the hook that was on the door then bent down and pulled out a pair of shimmering copper and pewter heels with a three-inch heel. Once she was satisfied, she moved into the bathroom to get ready.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Akane entered her home, no, not a home. It was a house it had ceased being a home when her mother died. The session went well with her doctor today and she felt she was getting better at controlling her anger and her doctor agreed. He however felt she still needed more therapy, as they had not yet tackled the feelings she kept hidden about her mother's death. She reluctantly agreed. She just hoped that the family session she and her sisters would finally be able to let go of their mother and move on. She had called Kasumi after she left the doctor's office with their meeting with her therapist that Friday.

She opened the front door and took off her shoes. Mrs. Ogata had left her a clean pair of house slippers to wear. She took a deep breath and then headed into the dining room. Her father sat at the table reading the newspaper. She moved toward him. She bent down and kissed the top of his head to let him know she was there. When he looked up at her, he smiled at her and she returned the smile.

"Mrs. Ogata asked that you come to the kitchen when you got home dear." Soun said his eyes a light with happiness.

"Ok thanks daddy." Akane said as she moved toward the kitchen.

"Mrs. Ogata you wanted to see me?" Akane asked staying just at the threshold of the one place in the house, she was forbidden to enter.

"Come in dear, come in." Mrs. Ogata turned and smiled at the youngest Tendo as she waved her into the kitchen.

"Here sit down we need to talk." Mrs. Ogata said as she put a saucer of freshly baked cookies on the table with a glass of cold milk.

"Did I do something wrong?" Akane asked as she tried to think of anything she might have done wrong.

"No child not at all. I have a surprise for you since you have been improving so well." The elderly housekeeper told the young girl as she sat down.

"What is it?" Despite herself she was excited, having Mrs. Ogata here it made her feel like her grandmother had moved in.

"I am going to start your cooking lessons. You have calmed a great deal and I think you are now calm enough that you will follow recipes as they are written and verify your ingredients." Mrs. Ogata told her with a warm smile.

"REALLY!" Akane jumped for joy and hugged the elderly woman her eyes full of excitement.

"Yes dear but you will start with the basics since your home-ec skills were never instilled in you at school." Mrs. Ogata said as she wagged her finger at the young girl who nodded happily.

Mrs. Ogata reached into a cupboard and pulled out a package wrapped in a soft pastel yellow with ruby throated hummingbirds all over it. It was tied with a dark blue ribbon. Mrs. Ogata placed it in front of Akane who looked at it with confusion. Mrs. Ogata sat down and smiled broadly at her.

"I made this for you. When you began to show restraint and being more, calm. Go on dear open it." Akane nodded happily.

She gently removed the ribbon and the paper trying not to tear it. She wanted to keep them as a memento of this moment. When the paper was removed, she placed it gently aside and looked down at the white tissue paper. She slowly pulled it opened and found a stack of three aprons that were all handmade.

Akane separated the stack and looked at each one with a soft smile. They were all made from a cotton material in primary colors. She first picked up the yellow one. It actually matched the wrapping paper with the ruby throated humming birds all over it. As she unfolded it, the apron was a bibbed apron with ruffles around the edge of the bib and hem of the skirt. She caressed it gently as she had never been given something so wonderful and made just for her. She folded it back up then moved to the next apron.

The next apron had a red background this apron was also a bibbed apron with ruffles the pattern on this apron was white orchids. There were also Monarch butterflies scattered sparingly throughout the pattern. Her eyes showed she loved this one just as much as the first. She folded it up then moved to the sapphire blue apron. It was again a bibbed apron with ruffles. The pattern on this one was Sakura blossoms still attached to the braches of an invisible tree somewhere off the material. There were also a few blossoms floating around in between the branches as if caught up by a gentle breeze. On some of the branches were exotic parrots.

"Oh Mrs. Ogata they are beautiful! Thank you so very much!" Akane said as she folded the last apron, got up, and hugged Mrs. Ogata tightly.

"You're welcome my dear now go put that all in your room. Change your clothes and bring an apron down for your first lesson." She smiled as Akane nodded and picked up everything and headed upstairs quickly.

Mrs. Ogata rose and began to get out the items Akane would need for her first lesson. She would not be making the entire meal though Mrs. Ogata knew the girl hoped that she would be. She would be making the appetizer for tonight's dinner. She was going to make the girl understand she had to start small and work her way up. She then reached into the shopping bag and pulled out the several notebooks along with a box of color pencils and several mechanical pencils. One book was already full of recipes the ones she planned to teach Akane. The others were for her to collect her own recipes she wanted to try and she would teach the girl how to make them.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Akane entered her room and put her gifts and the wrapping paper on her bed. The first thing she did was to gently fold the wrapping paper. She then reached in her closet and pulled out a small oak chest her mother's father made for her. Each of her sisters had one as well. Akane opened it showing all her most precious possessions. She laid the wrapping paper and ribbon on top of the other items. She closed the chest and pushed it back into the far back corner of her closet on the floor. When she was done, she pulled a lightweight yellow tee shirt with cap sleeves from the closet. She next went to her dresser and pulled out a pair of short shorts. She paused and decided jeans would be safer in the kitchen.

She took off her black slacks and red blouse. She is glad she would be going back to classes on Monday. She will try to be very good about not bothering Ran Koh and the other Light Warriors she was trying to show them that she had grown up some. When she was sure that they would listen to her, she planned to apologize to them for her behavior. She figured maybe after a couple of the family sessions with the therapist. Akane dressed as quickly as she could she then turned to her aprons and decided the red would look the best against the blue jeans and yellow tee. As she put on the apron, she watched herself in the mirror.

Her tears began to flow as she looked at herself and her mother's image as she remembered her was superimposed over the top of her. She gasped at the bright smile that was on her mother's face. It was a smile she had but so rarely gave because of the life she had been forced to live. Akane reached out and touched the image of her mother her face full of longing.

"Oh momma I miss you so badly!" Akane whispered as she dropped her hand then her image was alone in the mirror.

Akane left her room and stopped in the bathroom to wash her face with some cold water. She then headed downstairs her excitement building. As she entered the kitchen, she was tying a ribbon around her hair to keep it out of her way. She spotted the notebooks and two packets of twenty colored pencils. There were also two mechanical pencils with extra lead and erasers. She jumped slightly when she felt Mrs. Ogata's hand on her shoulder.

"Sit down child and I will explain." The older woman said as she placed a cup of tea on the table for Akane.

"Now I am going to teach you the way my mother taught me. Then once you can cook without supervision I am sure Kasumi will teach you your mother's recipes." The older woman saw the longing as it filled Akane's eyes.

"Now that top notebook is full of the recipes I will be teaching you. Tonight you are going to make the appetizer AH! You must start small and work your way up. Now open that book." Mrs. Ogata told her as she raised her hand to quiet the girl's protests.

Akane opened the book and saw all the neat handwriting. She noticed that Mrs. Ogata used the colored pencils as a way of highlighting special instructions of the recipes. She also put each section in a different color as well. She liked the way that looked. Even after Kasumi teaches her she planned on using this format, it made it easier to read and locate information quickly.

"Now you may choose to select the colors you wish to use for your recipes that will be fine but I think you will find this makes following recipes a lot easier. Those other books are for you to start collecting your recipes that you want to have. Once you start writing them, it is important to remember which color you used for what. The first time I started my own cookbook I wanted to use all the colors and kept changing them from recipe to recipe. I tell you dear by the end of it I was so confused. Therefore, if you look at the first page of the one I did for you. You will see I put a legend there as to what the colors are I used for what. You should create your own legend and put it in the first page of every book." Mrs. Ogata continued as Akane nodded her excitement shone brightly in her eyes.

Akane looked at the first page and saw what Mrs. Ogata meant. She realized it would prevent using the wrong color. She planned to figure what colors she wanted to use and then once she did get only replacements for those colors. She was sure she could get individual colored pencils at an artist supply store. She began to wonder if Sayuri and Yuka would let her copy some of the recipes, they did in class. She would ask once she decided on the colors she would use.

She looked up at Mrs. Ogata eager to learn. The older woman smiled and sat down next to her taking the notebook with all the recipes she had put in there for her. As they leafed through the appetizer, section allowing Akane to see a way of organizing her recipes all in one book. They settled on an easy appetizer to make but one that would not bore her in the preparations.

"Now dear since I gave you a variety of recipes to start with how you organize your recipes may be different. You may decide to keep each type of recipe in its own book. A book used for appetizers, one for soups, salads, entrée, and so on. Or you might decide to do it as one big book with everything." Mrs. Ogata smiled as Akane nodded while she looked through the notebook with the recipes already in them.

"Now first you need to read the recipe thoroughly and if there is something you don't understand try to figure it out on your own first and if you are still confused ask me. Once you are sure you understand the instructions you then gather all the ingredients and the tools you will need to do the prep work and prepare the dish." Akane went back to the recipe they had chosen and read it completely.

Akane wanted to make this correctly so badly she re-read the recipe several times to make sure she knew what she needed and how to do it. It was a relatively simple recipe. She did not need to clarify any of the instructions. She then got up from the table she then started her own steps for cooking. She first collected all the tools she would need then went about getting the ingredients. She checked them against the book several times to make sure they were correct. She hummed to herself as she started to prepare her dish being careful to work slowly and follow the recipe exactly. She was very surprised that she was able to control her speed and work slowly to make the dish. Akane was so engrossed in what she was doing she did not see the proud smile on Mrs. Ogata's face.

(l(l(l)l)l)

Akane laid in bed her hands behind her head as she stared at the ceiling. The smile on her face would not go away. She had made a dish for tonight's dinner and with Mrs. Ogata's help learned to taste her creations and figure out if it was correct or if she missed something. She had done pretty well according to the housekeeper. She stayed calm and made sure each ingredient she used was the correct one. Her father was shocked when Mrs. Ogata told him after they had eaten that Akane had made the appetizers. Akane's smile got bigger at the pride that had shown on her father's face as a single tear rolled down his cheek.

Akane rolled over and deciding to start using the color pencils to take notes at school for the different subjects just to see which colors she wanted to use for collecting her recipes. This way she would see what they looked like put to paper. She had already decided to do a different book for each type of recipe. She felt that would make it easier to find the recipes she wanted.

As Akane's mind began to shut down her smile slowly faded to a soft grin. She slowly watched as her eyes began to blur with tiredness as she began to shut them. The last thing she saw was the family picture they had taken just before their mother had died. A tear fell onto her pillow as her eyes closed she spoke softly and with a broken sob of great pain.

"Good *CHOKE* night momma, I miss you and love you!" With that said Akane's eyes finally shut completely and she was asleep.

(l(l(l)l)l)

It was Friday and the first family meeting with the therapist. Akane would meet her family at the doctor's office. As she sat in the waiting room waiting for the others, she wondered how they planned to get their father there. He could be quite stubborn when he wanted to be. At the sound of the office door opening, she looked up and smiled as all three of her family members entered. Her eyebrow arched at the frightened and nervous look of her father. She then looked to Nabiki who winked at her with an evil grin. She just nodded she understood and smiled back.

"Greetings little sister." Kasumi said as she hugged Akane.

"How's it going sis?" Nabiki said as she also gave Akane a hug.

"Ok I guess and with you?" She asked as she smiled happily that they had agreed to come and work things out.

"We are doing very well Akane-Chan. Father said that Mrs. Ogata is teaching you to cook and you have made several dishes already?" Kasumi asked with interest and bit of jealousy, as she had wanted to teach her sister.

"Yes she created a recipe book for me and I am learning to cook those items first. Then when I am able to cook without supervision I was hoping you would teach me mother's recipes." Akane told her big sister with hope filled eyes.

"I would like that very much maybe we might be able to talk Nabiki into learning with you?" Kasumi told her as she leaned in close to Akane conspiratorially as she winked at Nabiki who just rolled her eyes.

The Tendo girls laughed for a few moments until an indignant snort came from their father. They turned to see him sitting across from them his arms crossed over his chest as he glared at them. He was about to say something to them but he was cut off as the doctor's office door opened up to reveal Akane's therapist. He smiled at Akane who looked at him with a bright smile. He then bowed to the rest of the Tendo clan.

"Welcome, and thank you for coming. Your presence and input will not only help you through the grief you still hold within you but help Akane as well. Please come in and we will get started." The doctor stepped back from the door and ushered everyone in to his office.

As he turned to head back into the office, he spotted Soun as he sat in a distant corner his eyes focused straight ahead but on nothing particular. He noticed his body language and knew this one was going to be the hardest to crack. He then spotted Nabiki as she glared at her father, which caused the man to cringe. The doctor smiled as he began to understand the dynamics of Akane's family. He closed the door and moved to his desk. He sat down then stared at each of his new patients.

"I think we need to start with each of you telling me how you felt after the death of your mother and wife. This is important because this is where Akane is having trouble explaining her feelings. I feel if each of you, talk about your feelings she will see she is not alone and let her feelings out." The doctor told them as he looked first to Soun, as he was their father and needed to explain why he pushed everything onto his children after their mother's death.

(l(l(l)l)l)

The large modified school bus pulled into the back parking lot of The Yankee Trader. Everyone piled out Anna held Cali while Ukyo was nuzzling the fur of Blue. Ran Koh watched the two women with cat curses and smiled. She turned at deep purring and found that Alex and Rufino were scratching the stomach of Sera as he rolled onto his back his legs splayed and his eyes shut happily.

"Well I think now would be a good time for the rest of the leaders to test their communicative skills in cat." Michael said, as he stood next to Ran Koh he smiled at the antics of the happy tiger.

"Ok so what should we do?" Taj asked, as she felt foolish.

"Just mentally call out to ask a cat to come to you. Each of you needs to do it this way. The cats should come to each of you. Then we will know you all can talk to them if they come to only Alex and Samuel then only the magical leaders will be able to talk with the cats." Ryoga said as La Si took Blue from Ukyo.

They all nodded as they turned toward the alley entrance near Michael's store. They each called to a cat any cat. They waited with eager anticipation but nothing happened. Ran Koh, Ryoga, and the other members of the Light Warriors watched as their shoulders fell. They all smiled sadly at the remaining leaders. It was evident they had hoped to be able to talk to the cats as the Tiger Sect leaders had. When they turned back to their friends, they all smiled sadly at them.

"I guess we are to only communicate with Sera, Cali and Blue." Samuel said as he hugged his soul mate and partner as leader of the dragon sect.

"It would make sense Samuel. The next set of warriors might not have any that know the Neko-Ken. Therefore, it only makes sense that you all would only have a link to them. They are the generals of the animals and would need to communicate with the next group of Light Warriors." Rufino said as he looked at the dejected leaders.

"Well I guess we better get over to the Joketsuzoku Village. I think they should know of the changes. Michael, are you coming over for dinner later? I am sure Cyan would _love_ to see you." Jasmine said as she smirked at the Tiger sect warrior.

"PPPFFFTTTHHH!" He commented then nodded and went into The Yankee Trader and his home on the upper floors.

As the rest of the warriors left, they all laughed heartily. Ukyo had reclaimed Blue who tried to sneak off. Ukyo carried him like a baby and scratched his stomach. He tried to get down but it felt so good to have someone care for him again. He could not help himself, he began to snuggle into her arms, and purred loudly. Cali jumped to Ran Koh's shoulder from Sera's back and started to play with her long hair. Anna walked next to Sera as they all headed off to the Amazon Complex.

(l(l(l)l)l)

The Light Warriors walked into the Nekohanten and suddenly found Nodoka in front of them hugging the stuffing out of Ran Koh and Ryoga. She then began to inspect them for injuries. Once she was satisfied they were not injured she began to hug and inspect the rest of the warriors. Over the last few months, she had begun to think of the Light Warriors as her children. No one really contradicted that impression because some of them missed their families and enjoyed having a mother figure around for them. While others had no family to speak of or wanted to think of. They enjoyed her motherly, concern for them as it gave them the family they always craved.

They moved toward the private dining table set aside for the Amazons Nodoka fussing over Anna and Ukyo. Then she would fuss over other members of the team. Ran Koh motioned for Che Ri and asked her to get the elders for her. She nodded and went to the kitchen. She returned a moment later with tea and cups for everyone. Ran Koh smiled when her grandparents came from the kitchen as well.

As they moved to their seats, Daniel walked in. He glared at Samuel as he stood close to Ran Koh. He moved toward the couple and pushed his way between them ignoring not only Samuel but also Nodoka's glares. He then started to get overly familiar with the Tiger Sect leader as the sounds of three swords being drawn escaped him. This was due to the fact he was bent over holding his stomach. When Ran Koh had elbowed Daniel hard in his solar plexus, she then swept his legs out from under him. When he hit the ground hard, she kicked him in his backside causing him to skid across the restaurant floor and into the main hallway unconscious.

"Now Ran Koh you should not have done that!" Nodoka said as she glared at the fallen fighter.

"I agree granddaughter _we_ wanted to take care of him!" Ran Koh looked confused then smiled at her grandfather with a wide bright grin.

They all sat at the table and waited for the elders. Ran Koh and Martina started serving the tea and by the time they finished the elders were at the table receiving their tea from Martina. Ran Koh closed the drapes and Alex put up the shield to keep out the nosey. The changes were Light Warrior business but the Amazons needed to know. The clunking of cups caught everyone's attention as Cali had run across the table to Anna and the elders were staring dumbfounded at her. They then noticed Blue and finally Sera as he poked his head over the edge of the table.

"What has happened, niece?" Ku Lon asked as she stared at the luminescent animals.

"It is a long story. But short version they were caught in a Gray Monk alteration. Now all Light Warrior leaders will be able to speak with them only and they will be reincarnated for the next war if there is one." Ran Koh said as she sipped her tea waiting for the explosion she was surprised when a calm voice asked the next question.

"Please explain it to us granddaughter." Ran Koh looked up at her grandmother Taji as she leaned down and looked more closely at Blue still in Ukyo's arms.

"The Gray Monks felt since they lead the animal fighters they should be reincarnated when 'He Who Devours the Light' returns after us." Ryoga started then they Light Warriors took turns explaining what happened.

The leaders pulled out their staffs from Setsuko and showed the alterations the monks had made. They told of the merging of the stones with the magic users' staffs and that Calcoridan thinks it may disappear from the staffs to appear to the next magical leaders of the Light Warriors or it may not he could not be sure. They told them that only Ryoga and Ran Koh can still talk with all cats but all the leaders can now talk to Sera, Cali, and Blue.

Ku Lon and Mas Cra held out their hands to Ryoga and Ran Koh the Tiger Sect leaders handed them their staffs. They felt the power from the staffs but did not remember it having that strong of power before. They looked at the altered tiger engravings and then opened their senses to the tigers and the crystal. They nodded and handed back the staffs to their owners.

"So did Setsuko know they had been infused with magic when she got them?" Mas Cra asked as Li Ly examined Alex's staff.

"No she didn't know. Katchia and I were with her and didn't know the owner of the store we met was a Gray Monk. Though I think the real owner just did not know the Gray Monk was impersonating him." Megan said as she watched as the other leaders gave their staffs to the elders.

"Interesting so the gifts she had made for you the monks decided to make another weapon against this evil." Li Ly said as she returned Taj's staff with a nod of thanks.

"Yeah we think so. We feel it was because after the last battle the Warrior's Stone was shattered into three pieces. We feel that they put the crystals on our staffs and linked it to not only our staffs and us but to our co-leaders as well. The monks I think plan on using the reincarnated cats as a means of delivery." Ran Koh said as she leaned against her mother.

"Calcoridan and Morboshi-sensei will be going through the journals of the last Light Warriors to find out exactly how the last controller and other magical leaders altered the Warrior Stone so we might be able to do it again but with a more powerful spell. We will also use magic from all the magic users to not only destroy all the generals but 'He Who Devours the Light' as well." Samuel told them.

The Light Warriors then talked about the recommendations of Kiima and Calcoridan. They felt with all the powerful changes this time around that a preemptive strike might be the way we should go. They said they would like to get Kiima and Herb to a meeting and do some strategy planning. The Light Warriors continued with what else Calcoridan had told them and that they were seriously considering his and Kiima's suggestions.

(l(l(l)l)l)

The Tendos walked into the Nekohanten. They took the table by the window. Both Kasumi and Soun were very agitated. As they sat down, they waited for a waitress. They looked up as Xian Pu stood next to the table. Kasumi ordered for everyone when she left Kasumi voiced her opinion.

"I don't understand why Aimeko must come to our next therapy session." Kasumi still held a grudge for her abandoning them to their father.

"He told you sis, daddy's attempt to make her mother in his life has to be addressed that and why if he was not going to raise us as he should have done not allow her and uncle to take care of us until he was ready to be our father." Nabiki told her, as she tried to control her anger at her father as he cringed but there was still anger there.

"I for one want to know why he didn't! Our lives would not have been so destructive to us because we had to take care of each other. I would not have to have become the bread winner a job _he_ should have done!" Nabiki's anger rose as she realized the resentment she held for her father's refusal to raise his children instead of his children raising him.

"Easy Nabiki it will be alright. Kasumi she needs to be there she was a part of what happened when *CHOKE* mother died. Maybe she could show father what he did to us by explaining why he did what he did!" Soun cringed as even though Akane sounded calm he could still hear the anger boiling under the surface.

"What I did? I had no control over. My heart as it was breaking as I lost my soul mate." Soun said quietly as he saw Xian Pu as she brought their orders.

"That is no excuse daddy! You are our father you needed to pull yourself together and support us and raise us _not the other way around_! If you could not you needed to allow Aimeko and Ben raiase us until you could!" Nabiki told him her anger becoming visible.

Soun lowered his head he knew deep down they were right. He also knew deep down he and Saotome were cut from the same...no not cut trained from the same cloth would be more like it. They were trained by their old master to always let others take care of you and bilk any situation for whatever you could get them to do. A lesson he and Saotome learned so well. Soun paused as he wondered where his old friend had disappeared too. He really did miss him and wondered if he would ever come back to visit.

Soun played with his food as images of his life before his beloved wife had passed on. He had tuned out his daughters as happy memories of he and his wife crossed his mind. He really did not want children he just wanted to be the center of Kimiko's world. He wanted to be the one she took care of. Then Kasumi was born and he had to share his wife with her. He resented Kasumi's incursion just as he resented each of his daughters' birth. As they came into the world, his wife slowly replaced him as the center of her universe with them.

"Father? Are you ok?" Kasumi asked as she placed a gentle touch on her father's hand.

"Yes dear, just remembering your mother." He wanted to shout more he wanted to say they had killed her but he did not.

He wanted them to come home and be as it was. He wanted to get rid of that insufferable woman, though he did appreciate the fact she had taught Akane to cook. However, she was taking liberties that were not her right to take in the raising of his children. He slowly picked up his chopsticks and slowly ate. He pretended to listen to them as they talked about other things.

His mind drifted back to when Kimiko was pregnant with Kasumi. The warning of the doctor played repeatedly in his mind. He had told them that if she carried the baby to term it could kill her. If she survived, it would definitely weaken her. With each child, she had, she would get worse, and it could eventually kill her. He hated Kasumi as she started Kimiko's decline. He never blamed his wife for wanting to continue to have children. He blamed each daughter as she gave birth to her, each daughter as they killed another piece of his wife. The daughter he hated most of all was Akane as her birth was the last one that killed his beloved and took her from him. His heart broke as he realized he also loved his children as in a weird sick way in his mind they were his wife. He could not help but hate them as well. He paused as he wondered if what he did was to get even with them from taking Kimiko from him. He put down his chopsticks and threw some money on the table then got up and left the restaurant.

His daughters watched as he left confusion on their faces. They watched as he headed toward the park. Their faces had varying degrees of anger, frustration, and hurt. They watched as he disappeared down the street his head bent his hands clasped behind his back. They were not sure but they could almost swear he had a sickly greenish yellow aura around him. Kasumi rose to follow him when a strong arm pushed her back into her seat. She looked up to see Tofu next to her.

"Let him be alone with his thoughts Kasumi he has a lot of demons of his own to fight with at this moment." Tofu then bent down and kissed her head and left to go to see the elders.

The Tendo daughters stared at the back of Dr. Tofu as he headed to the kitchen. They then again looked out the window toward the park where their father had disappeared. Their hearts breaking as the session with the therapist was most hurtful to him as he learned the anger his children had for him and for his inability to support them, as he should have. They were surprise when they confronted him that he shrunk deep within himself. The councilor talked about Soun having a couple of private sessions sensing he was keeping something from his daughters. He refused but as Nabiki stared after her father, she had decided he would go if she had to drag him there. She knew there was something, he needed to talk about, but he could not talk to them. The therapist would be able to listen and keep it confidential, which she felt was something her father needed.