Thank you TCTK (My Oak's upgrades are going to be better than yours), XV-Dragon (Things must get worse before they get better), Guardian of the Water (Glad you are loving the story), KnightofFaerun (I might be, I might not be), minipower (You can always read at school), donki-shouben (You're thinking that Inari is the same as Kyuubi. They are in species, nothing else.) J()o i)o (Whatever you wish to believe), and Wilhelmina Vandom (Glad you like Inari) for the reviews and support. Tsunami would be dead without it. Also thank you to all my non-reviewing readers.

Anyway enjoy Chapter 28.


"Lord Mitsunari," Suna says entering the main chamber.

"What is it Suna," Mitsunari says in an annoyed tone.

"Oak and Cyan have yet to return from their mission," Suna scoffs, "it should not take those two this long to destroy a fortress filled with old people."

"They may have caught a snag," Mitsunari says as he and Suna walk toward the dungeon where their prisoners wait, "but that is not all that troubles you."

"Akatsuki and Mizu have gone," Suna says with an evil grin, "missing."

"Let the love birds have their privacy," Mitsunari says coldly. "We have other matters to attend to."

"Of course," Suna says, "activating the arms and spine."

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"Do we really have time to be doing this," Will screams as the five appear in front of Saga's hut/ palace. "If Hay Lin and Irma encounter each other…"

"It will end in another stalemate," Saga says turning to her charges. "From just the damage I could tell that neither of the two were using the best of their abilities. "

"So what you are saying," Taranee says pushing her glasses up her nose, "is that they were holding back."

"Yes," Saga says with a smirk, "and what Hay Lin did to Cornelia's youkai, as well as my technique, only served to confirm that theory."

"So what are we supposed to do," Cornelia says in a depressed tone, "if they were barely trying and they could do that kind of damage. How are we supposed to help them?"

"We'll find a way," Caleb says putting his arms around the woman, "we have to."

"I like this boy," Saga says with an even bigger grin, "and he's right we'll have to. With the events that have occurred there is little choice. I'll have to go to the most severe part earlier than expected."

"What are you talking about," Will says backing away from the group, "severe part. Then what was all that we went through earlier."

"Wilhelmina," Saga says calmly, "please calm down."

"No," Will says backing even farther away, "I know what this is about. You don't think I'm strong enough that's why you gave me those simpler tasks."

"Will," Taranee says trying to calm the frightened red head, "I went through the same things as you did."

"Yea," Will yells, "but you're the one she likes. Not me, and I'm sick of it. I'll teach myself how to be strong." Will then runs off away from the group.

"Will wait," Cornelia says trying to go after their leader.

"No," Saga says with a heavy sigh, "she must walk her own path." She then turns to the blonde as light wraps into the pupils of her eyes. "Just like each warrior who possesses strength must do."

"So you think we are strong," Cornelia says with a grin and running her hand through her hair. "I must say that I'm touched." Suddenly a green colored portal opens underneath her and she pulls her in.

"Cornelia," Caleb and Taranee say as they rush to save the blonde, but they are blocked by a strange aura and then launched back. The portal then closes as the two stand up.

"What did you just do," Caleb asks angrily looking at Saga.

"I need to talk to Taranee in private," Saga says calmly, "so I sent her to a place where someone can supervise her while she is being trained." A large silver portal then appears below Caleb. "The same goes for you."

Once Caleb is sucked into the silver portal Saga turns toward a slightly terrified Taranee.

"So what do you have to talk to me about," Taranee says regaining her composure and taking a defensive stance.

"Will was right about one thing," Saga says as she removes the chain that holds her hair in its thirteen ponytails. "You are indeed the one I like the most."

"What does that have to do with anything," Taranee says as she finally calms herself down all the way.

"It means that I have chosen you to be the one who will take my place when I am gone," Saga says holding the chain.

"But aren't you immortal," Taranee asks quickly.

"I was my dear Fire Guardian," Saga says removing one of the charms. "When I battled my sister on Candracar I used a technique that can kill any being within thirteen days in order to try to put the odds in my favor. This is also another one of the reasons that we are speeding up your training."

"What would I have to do," Taranee asks as she is suddenly turned back to her human form.

"First you need to accept the honor," Saga says to get a nod from Taranee, "then I'm going to tie this charm to your braid." As Saga does this the charm glows a bright red and the symbol on it morphs to the symbol of fire that Taranee is familiar with.

"Why don't I get the whole chain," Taranee asks obviously realizing that the chain is like the crown for the title she just accepted.

"Unfortunately," Saga sighs, "once you start on the journey of learning all thirteen elements and their strengths and weaknesses. You must start with your innate element. Fire is yours, where Life was mine."

"So," Taranee says with a smirk while touching the charm, "I start with fire since I know it best and go on from there."

"Yes," Saga says with her usual titter while removing another charm and handing it to Taranee, "and during your last training task you showed your mastery of the sun, or solar element."

"Where am I supposed to put this," Taranee asks.

"Anywhere you wish," Saga says, "only the Charm of Fire should stay with you at all times. Where I wore the chain was in my hair. My sister when she was still my sister wore it on her arm, and my mother wore it around her neck. That's enough reminiscing we have only a short time to get you to earn the other eleven charms, and we have to start with the hardest one for you."

"Let me guess," Taranee sighs, "my opposite, water."

"Yep," Saga says, "let's hit the pool."

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"This is too easy," an armored soldier bearing the crest of the Tri-Planar council says as he and a man dressed in blue plate mail approach Hay Lin's unconscious form.

"I agree," the plate mail wearing man says as he removes a huge battle axe from his back, "but now that we don't have to capture her." He raises the axe above his head and prepares to bring it down on the girl's neck.

"Katon," a male voice says from the shadows, "Goukakyuu." Suddenly, a large fireball careens at the two warriors.

"Protect," the soldier screams as an energy barrier blocks the flames.

"Now don't you think it's unfair to attack an unconscious opponent," a female voice echoes through the forest.

"We have our orders," the plate mail wearing one screams, "let us go about our business and we will spare your lives."

"You are not in the position to be making deals," the female voice says.

"Doton," the male voice says, "Doryuudan." Out of the ground behind the two lifts the head of a dragon made entirely of earth. It then opens its mouth and fires a barrage of deadly earth missiles at the warriors. The axe wielding warrior then quickly bats them aside and frantically looks around.

"Commander Asura," the soldier asks, "what is…" His thought is cut off as a tendril of water pierces his neck.

"Has Dark Enigma decided to declare war on us," Asura says angrily seeing Mizu as his subordinate falls to the ground.

"No," Mizu says with a childish grin. "Just me."

"Please you don't know fire or earth magic," Asura says readying his weapon.

"But I do," Akatsuki says grabbing Asura's throat, "I also control the Tsukiyomi." Asura screams for a second before going limp. Akatsuki then throws him aside. "Katon, Ryuu Endan." He then incinerates the body with a powerful stream of fire.

"They were right about one thing," Mizu says picking up Hay Lin's body, "that was too easy."

"Then let us hurry to a place where they can't find us." Akatsuki says as the two vanish with Hay Lin.

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"Good morning ladies," Mitsunari says as he, Suna, and Alecara enter the room where Elyon, Phobos, and Lillian are stored.

"What do you want now," Elyon asks in an angry tone.

"It is time to take you to more suitable accommodations." Alecara says in his monotone voice.

"Good they are removing us from these cages," Elyon thinks to herself, "as soon as I'm out I can fight back."

"Don't try anything Heart of Meridian," Suna says as sand wraps Elyon's and Lillian's body before their cages open and they are quickly pulled from them.

"What now you don't want me," Phobos says in a mocking yet hurt tone.

"Fool," Mitsunari chuckles as he watches Elyon trying to break through the sand. "The entire time you were in that cage my associate was using a spell to transfer the half of the arm's DNA that was put into your body by your mother into your sister."

"Now you are useless and will continue to rot in a cell," Alecara says as the three turn and leave the room.

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"I think I'm far enough away," Will pants as she rests near a tree in the forest near Saga's home. "I can't see the hut anymore." She then sits and puts her back up to the wood, that felt strangely like silk, before pulling her legs up to her chest and shivering. The sun was setting to her right, not that it mattered as she cried into her knees. Why hadn't her "friends" come after her? It was obvious to her that they didn't care. Then her eyes widen as she feels a sharp pain coming from her side. She glances down to see a bird sized thing that was pure white and had long dragonfly like creature had dug its claws and teeth into her flesh. "Let go of me!"

The creature hisses as electrical current perforates its body. It flails on the ground for a while before standing and lunging at her throat only to be snatched out of the air by a creature that had a slightly pill shaped body with a long neck and armored head. The actual body was pure white with large red spines sticking up from its back. It had slender yellow red arms with each sporting a four fingered hand with razor sharp claws. It growled in what Will could only assume was pleasure as it crushed the smaller creature in its beak like mouth while trying to avoid hitting seven foot long needle like teeth that curved away from the body.

That's when it finally realized that Will was there. It then dropped the carcass and turned to the more succulent meal. It hadn't had hominid in quite a while, and it really did like their taste. Will turned to try and run but only encountered its tail which was equipped with a long bladed pincer that was open and appeared ready to cleave her in half.

Will was breathing heavily. She was scared out of her mind, but she felt something else. She felt that she could pass out at any minute. She was burning up and she couldn't tell why. Before she knew it the creature slammed her into the tree with a powerful kick from its leg. Now she was winded and about to pass out as the monster readies to pierce her body with its needle like teeth. Will closed her eyes and gave in to the welcome feeling of unconsciousness and knew that soon it would all be over.