Chapter Twenty Seven – Prepare the Ground

Daichi was amazed at how stronger Seth had become. The other dragons watched from afar. Seth pulled out his kunai and attacked Daichi with it, as if it were a katana. His strike was strong, and what made him stronger was his determination. He landed a kick on Daichi's stomach, and Daichi fell on the ground, and before he could get back up, in a fraction of a second, Seth was on top of him, kicking him aggressively to the ground. Daichi coughed out blood at the impact and punched Seth on the face, sending him flying, but he managed to get back up.

"I see you've gotten stronger, boy." Daichi said, spitting out the blood from his mouth. Seth didn't answer back.

"What's wrong? Can't talk?" Daichi asked, hoping to taunt the boy.

"I can't waste my energy on you. I have to finish this as soon as I can and go find my sister." Seth replied, his voice cold.

Daichi could laugh. Did Seth honestly think that was all Daichi was capable of doing? Daichi had Shift for crying out loud! If anyone was going to finish this faster it was Daichi. Indeed, he was amazed at Seth's increase in strength, but that was all the boy could do. He didn't have Shift.

"If you're thinking that was all I could do, then you're gravely mistaken boy." Daichi said, concentrating chakra into the palm of his hand. Seth raised an eye brow. "Oh? And here I thought this was going to get boring." Seth grinned and spread his legs apart, knowing fully well what to do. He smirked as he thought of the outcomes.

Akai wondered why Seth looked so confident. Before he could ask Akiyo, she sighed. "What's gotten you in a fix Akai?" She asked. "If we really needed to stop Daichi, then we should be fighting alongside Seth." Akai said. "This is his battle. We're here only to help him when he wants us to. We're not here to fight his battles for him." Akiyo said. "What's making the boy so confident? Daichi has Shift-""So does he." Akai's eyes widened, and for the next minute he forgot how to speak.

Akira sensed Saya's chakra, and halted. Kakashi looked at her and realized it as well. Naruto was feeling somewhat afraid. Anxious and wondered how Saya was. How much she would've changed. When he thought of the pain she went through, he cringed. He closed his eyes and thought of all the times they spoke, sparred and ate ramen together. They were such good times, and if only things didn't change the way they did, she would be there with him. Sakura understood his pain, she knew he loved her. She knew he had a crush on her, but for Saya his feelings were mature. She missed Saya. Before she got to know her, she thought Saya was just another secret fan girl and that she had to stay away from her. But as it turned out, Saya always knew Sakura wasn't necessarily mean. Saya's patience made Sakura's heart melt, and she was willing to put her very life on the line to help her.

It was a small cottage in which Saya stayed the night. It was a rundown hut, which was probably built by a traveler. But for one night, Saya wouldn't mind, and she slept. Or that was what she tried to do. Ryu was sent back to the dragon world for the night, to check on Hidaeki. All Saya could think of was her previous life in her old home. And she knew Daichi will be stopped for both Akira and Kakashi knew his plans. They would certainly stop him, but she didn't want to let that happen. She would stop him. She would kill him. Even if that meant lowering her standards down to that of a murderer she would oblige. Her mother was innocent, and she was brutally killed by that man, and if anyone had the rights to kill, it was Saya. She couldn't ever forgive him for what he did, and the thought of how sadistic certain people were, made her blood boil. There were people like Itachi, who didn't like fighting at all, but did everything they could, giving up their own life, to protect the others they love. Saya hoped she was like him. And then there were people like Sasuke, who were blinded by hatred, and lived only for revenge. Saya knew she wasn't that kind, but her heart thought otherwise. There was a noise outside the hut. She sensed Akira but with her were…three others? Saya's heart was in her fist when she made out who they were.

Kakashi.

Sakura. And-

Naruto…

The door of the hut slammed open, and Saya was pulled off her feet, and was hugged as tight as possible. It was Naruto. Saya immediately started to cry, and Sakura hugged her as well. "You're alive!" Sakura yelped. Saya nodded, forgetting that they weren't supposed to be here. Forgetting for a moment, the reason everything happened to her. Naruto just stood there, watching the two girls cry, and his heart warmed at the sight. Saya was alive. His Saya was alive. He walked up to her, and hugged her again, this time gentler. Saya was shocked, by his sudden change, and noticed he grew taller. Naruto noticed Saya had grown as well, and he blushed at the thought. He pulled back, and Saya was wiping her eyes, her hair ticking her. Sakura pulled her hair behind gently and tied a knot. "Sakura-"Saya was saying when Sakura, "This way your hair won't get in the way." Sakura giggled, and Saya smiled.

Akira wouldn't admit it, but the scene was almost going to make her cry. She noticed how her nephew behaved around Saya, and understood for a fact that he loved her. 'He isn't supposed to.' She thought to herself, but shunned the thought away. Naruto reminded her so much of Obito, a man she still loved and missed. But she loved Obito now just like any friend would love each other, for Kakashi was the man for her.

"Saya, what happened? We know what, but…tell us everything you know. We are going to help you whether you like it or not." Sakura said, her face stern.

Saya didn't even listen to Sakura. For something other than that was bothering her.

Naruto.

He was too quiet today.

Very quiet.

"Naruto…is something wrong?" Saya found herself asking.

Naruto quickly shook his head and, "Nothing! I'm just happy to see you're alive Saya. You can't tell how happy I am right now!" Naruto bellowed. Saya knew he was happy to see her, but there was something else.

His eyes.

The way he looked at her.

Everything made her stomach turn. In fear. In fear of what thoughts ran through his mind.

Kakashi and Akira both knew what that meant.

Saya was afraid her cousin brother was falling in love with her. The worst part, her cousin doesn't know they're related.

'I wonder how that feels like.' Akira thought, before chuckling mentally. Saya found herself explaining everything to her two friends, earning weird looks of bewilderment.

"Saya, now that you're done explaining, here's what I came here to tell you." Akira said. Saya turned toward her and, "Your brother Seth is fighting Daichi as we speak." Saya was infuriated. "Then what are we doing here? Let's go!" she yelled, before summoning Ryu.

Jellal was at home. His mother was in the kitchen, cooking he assumed. His brother…he didn't care. He didn't hate Eriol, it was quite the opposite, but he couldn't show it, for Jellal was never the type to show out or express his emotions. Eriol was far better in that category. But from the past few days, Jellal's conscious was eating him alive. Daichi was his father, and he was Eriol's father as well. So that gave Eriol every right to know about his father's plots. Jellal detested the fact that he had to be the one to tell Eriol the truth, but there wasn't anyone else. So he set out to find his brother. He knew Eriol already had an idea of the truth, his teammates were smart, and he'd give them that. But now, he was going to let the little critter (As Jellal called him) know what was really going on.