This is the 25th chapter. I don't own the series of Maken-Ki.

Tenbi Academy

The next day in Tenbi Academy, 'Ouken' have ordered the agents of Kamigari to go to the Sacred Mountain, Amanohara to awaken Yamato no Orochi where it was sealed from around the millennia, but some legends were turn out true and it is even rarer to find those who still believe in legends in this day and age. However, there are still few that still believe as the agents of Kamigari were heading towards Amanohara to unseal Yamato no Orochi.

"What Do You People Think You're Doing!?" The woman shouts with a glare. "It is forbidden to climb Amanohara without-KYAA!"

"We've come here to awaken a God." One of agents of Kamigari answered as he shoved her to the right as the agents of Kamigari continues to head Amanohara.

When they got up to the top of Amanohara, they noticed Gen was here protecting the seal while smoking his cigarette.

"Heh...I don't remember Kamigari having such a devout belief in Gods, but you know this mountain is the private property of Tenbi." Gen told them with a smirk as he asked. "Could you Kamigari folks kindly return to where you came from?"

"The 'Maken Blacksmith' Gen Tagayashi." The agent of Kamigari said as he shows the warrant to Gen. "Unfortunately, we've already got permission from this land's government to investigat 'Awa no Iwato' seal."

"They allowed you? That can't be!" Gen exclaimed with shock.

"You can contact the government if you don't believe us." The agent of Kamigari told him with a smirk hidden under his mask.

"Damn Minori." Gen cursed her name. 'I thought she said most of them were supposed to be supporters of Tenbi!?'

"If you still intend to stand in our way, I hope you have the strength to take on 4 A-Class Maken users." The agent of Kamigari said as they unleashed their Maken, ready to fight against Gen.

Suddenly, an assailant shot one of Kamigari agent's Maken out of nowhere water Element which it lead them to confusion along with Gen, but Yan used her lightning Element as she ran over them with her lightning speed, sent them flying while Akaya used his 'Hypnosis' bullet to shoot 4 Kamigari agents, knocking them out unconscious.

"These guys..." Gen said with shock as he put two-by-two together.

"Your entrance wasn't too bad." Akaya said with confident smirk, earned Gen's attention. "But you didn't have any impact. It's rude of me to expect too much from an idiot like you, but always remember that when you make an entrance, it must be grand and elegant at the same time!"

"Akaya, weren't you supposed to be locked up?" Gen questions with a glare.

"If they've already taken control of the government, it's only a matter of time before Tenbi's enemies arrive." Akaya explains, leaving Gen shocked.

"What do you mean!?" Gen exclaimed with a question.

"In order to release the Seal in Amanohara, it seems that Kamiagari-I mean 'Ouken' will do whatever it takes. It'll be only a matter of time before Tenbi and Kamigari have an all-out war." Akaya explains seriously. "I fooled the first team they sent with 'Hypnosis', but it'll only buy us some time before they figure it out...However Gen, I see you're still as weak as I remember."

"What!? I'm just as strong as you, you punk! We're both A-Class!" Gen shouts with a glare, gained a tick mark on his head.

"Stop wasting time and contact Minori. I have to tell her what I believe 'Ouken's' true goal is." Akaya told him.

"GO SCREW YOURSELF!" Gen yelled with anger.

However, they don't have time as they dragged the agents of Kamigari back to HQ and hanged them upside-down on the tree while gagged them with a duct tape and left.

Okino Island

Meanwhile in the bungalow, Haruko accidentally slept with Aki which it was her sleeping habit as she got up while getting dressed and putting an apron on.

'They must be getting tired of my sleeping habit.' Haruko thought with a blush of embarrassment as she head towards the kitchen, but she noticed that both Zane and Chacha were cooking breakfast for the members of Maken-Ki.

"Good morning." Haruko greets with a smile.

"Morning." Zane greets back as Chacha waves her hand with a grin. "I guess you woke up early as usual."

"Sorry, I woke up early because of it." Haruko apologized. "Might as well do something."

"You don't have to do that, Haruko. We can take care of this." Zane told her.

"Besides, you don't have to do everything around here." Chacha added.

"I know, but the least I can do is take care of everything while you guys trained." Haruko insisted. "I can't use my powers right now."

Both Zane and Chacha gave her a nod with an understanding which she needs to realize that she can't do everything on her own as Chacha gave Haruko a helping hand as she carries a laundry basket full of clothes while heading towards the washing room.

"You and Zane seem to get along, anything happened?" Haruko asked curiously, leaving Chacha blushed.

"Oh well, we're just getting by. We've been working together since months." Chacha said awkwardly, leaving Haruko confused.

"Chacha, are you okay?" Haruko questions.

"Y-Yeah, what about you?" Chacha asked with a few shades of red.

"Oh I'm doing fine." Haruko answered. "Besides, I'm sure Take is doing his best to train so I need to do what I can as well."

However, Haruko was feeling dizzy as she collapsed down to the floor, leaving Chacha gasp with shock as she rushes towards inside to find her boyfriend.

"Zane, We Have A Problem!?" Chacha yelled, earned his attention.

"Chacha, what happened?" Zane questions.

"It's Haruko, she passed out." Chacha answered.

Zane and Chacha rushed towards Haruko, he noticed that she passed out as he checks out her pulse which she's breathing, but her face was red.

"She's got a fever." Zane answered seriously. "Chacha, can you get Haruko inside?"

Chacha nods as she carries Haruko on her shoulder.

"What about you?" Chacha questions.

"I have to go find Takeru, he needs to hear about Haruko." Zane answered, getting a nod from her as he rushes inside of the forest to find Takeru.

Takeru was doing his early morning exercise in the forest as he inhale and exhale to concentrate his Element when the leaf began to fall. He opened his eyes with serious expression on his face as he punched the tree, causing the leaf to split in two.

"I did it." Takeru said with a proud smile. "Become one with the universe, I think I'm starting to get the hang of it, but I can't wait until the day I learn how to become one with the Earth! I'll be able to see so many panties from so many different angles!"

When Takeru began to daydream about seeing the girls panties in a different angle, Zane rushed over to him since he found him in the middle of the forest.

"Takeru!" Zane called his name, earned his attention.

"Good morning Zane." Takeru greets.

"Takeru, it's Haruko! She passed out with a fever." Zane told him, leaving Takeru shocked.

Both Zane and Takeru rushed inside of the bungalow while Chacha have woken up Aki as the nurse began to give Haruko a check-up. When Aki finished her check-up, she began to unbutton Haruko's shirt, leaving her cleavage exposed.

"So she just had a cold?" Takeru questions when he noticed Aki was on her swimsuit, leaving him blushed.

"Yes. She's a little fatigued with a slight fever, but it's probably a reaction from her powers being unstable right now." Aki explains.

"That explains it since she used that strong attack on me a few months back and she have used that attack against Demitra a month ago." Zane said seriously, remembered the time that he fought against Haruko and remembered that she fought against Demitra.

"Unstable!? Then how do we fix it!?" Uruchi panicked.

"Shhhh." Aki shushed her. "That's what I'm going to figure out now. So I'll need your help, okay Uruchi?"

"What!? Why Me!?" Uruchi exclaimed with shock.

"Having you panic around the patient will only cause her unnecessary stress. We'll leave her in the care of Takeru." Aki told her as she shove Uruchi out of the bungalow.

"But if we leave that pervert alone with Haruko, he's definitely going to take her virginity!" Uruchi exclaimed with exasperation.

"Shut up, you're just exaggerating." Zane said with annoyance with he bonked her head, leaving a big bump on her head.

"Why doesn't she trust me? Takeru questions with dull expression. "But I can't blame her."

"Anyway that's how it is, so please take care of her okay." Yuuka said with her usual smile, earned a nod from him.

When they were outside of the bungalow, Zane began to explain Minori about Haruko which she wasn't surprised about this situation.

"I was afraid this might happen." Minori said with a sigh. "Like Aki said, Haruko's powers was unstable right now since she's still recovering from the fight against Venus."

"It make sense since she used that strong attack against between me and Demitra." Zane said. "But I don't think that's the case."

"What do you mean?" Minori questions, raising her eyebrow.

"Haruko was trying to help us out since Chacha and I already got this." Zane told her. "However, she insisted to help us out."

"Hmm...Now that I think about it, she's trying to take care everything." Minori pondered. "I told her that she don't need to take care of everything, but she never listens. Knowing her, she was stubborn."

"She's always stubborn." Himegami said with annoyance. "Whenever Haruko has no powers, she was trying to take care of everything which she just want to be some of help to all of us while we train."

"I don't know why she was worrying some stupid stuff like that?" Zane questions with his eyebrow raised, sighed. "She needs to realize that she can't do everything on her own."

Himegami and Minori nods with an agreement which he was right about it. Himegami then formed a sly smile as she spoke.

"Tell me Zane, you and Chacha have been together for few months, I've noticed that you Chacha have been acting awkward since Haruko have been asking a question, did something happen between the two of you?" Himegami asked with a smirk.

Zane was caught off-guard from her question as he blushed with few shades of red.

"I guess if I don't tell you, you'll just badger Chacha until I do." Zane said sheepishly a he rubbed the back of his before sighing. "Okay, I'll tell you what happen few weeks ago."

That got both Minori and Himegami's attention as he began to explain about what happened a few weeks ago which he told them that Chacha have snuck up on his tent since she wanted to cuddle up with him, but they did more than cuddle up. They have done the deed by having sex, leaving both Minori and Himegami blushed.

"So, you two finally did it, huh?" Minori questions with a smirk, getting a nod from him. "You dog. No wonder Chacha have been acting awkward, but you?"

"But it made complete sense at the time." Zane defends. "Look, I know it was weird for doing this during training, but I still enjoyed it."

A sudden thought occurred to him which he'd forgot to consider.

"Calm down, I don't see what's the big deal." Minori shrugs which Himegami nods with an agreement. "What you lovebirds do it's your business. We were actually surprised that you gave your first time with Chacha."

"She's right, Zane. However, you're gonna have to tell your sister sooner or later since you've done it behind our backs." Himegami told him.

Zane knew that Himegami was right about it as he sighed, giving them a nod with reluctance. Unknown to them, Takeru have overheard their conversation which he was surprised that Zane has given his first time to Chacha. However, Takeru shook his thoughts out as he wring out the rag while placed it on her forehead.

Haruko slowly opened her eyes, earned her attention from Takeru when he turned his head to her.

"Oh? You're awake." Takeru said with relief.

"Take...I...What happened?" Haruko asked groggily. "What...time...is it?"

"The time? It's 2 in the afternoon." Takeru answered.

"Already!?" Haruko exclaimed. "I've Got To Prepare Lunch For Everyone!"

When Haruko was about to get up, she headbutts Takeru on his chin, causing them to wince with pain.

"Ouch...You're sick, so you just need to get some rest." Takeru told her, leaving her surprised.

"Sick...?" Haruko asks, realized what happened. "Ah...I was asking Chacha about her and Zane...and then...I..."

Until her stomach was growling, leaving Takeru chuckled and Haruko blushed with embarrassment while she was covering herself.

"Hungry are ya?" Takeru asks with a smile, extended the bowl of porridge to her. "The only thing a sick person needs to do is eat and rest until they get better. Right?"

"Umm...thanks." Haruko thanked him with a blush as she take the bowl of porridge from him which it was warm. "It's still warm. Did you just make this?"

"Yup." Takeru nods.

"Why?" Haruko questions.

"I had a feeling you'd wake up soon." Takeru said with a chuckle.

"What do you mean?" Haruko asks.

"This kind of stuff used to happen a lot back when we were kids." Takeru said, remembered. "I remember the times I took care of you when you were sick, you were really demanding back then."

"Sorry about that." Haruko apologized with a blush, cringed of that reminder.

"You're still stubborn as I remember, you're overworking yourself." Takeru told her which he was right.

"So what if I am? I mean, I don't have powers, I just want to be of some help to everyone while they train." Haruko said.

"Why do you worry about stupid stuff? No one is bothered by you not having powers." Takeru said with a smile. "We're a team. You're sick, so ask for whatever you need okay?"

Haruko couldn't help but sigh with defeat as she nods.

"Well then, what can I do for you my lady?" Takeru asks politely, bowing to her as she smiled.

"You are forbidden from associating yourself with any form of perversion!" Haruko exclaims with a demand, pointing at Takeru, leaving him shocked.

"What!?" Takeru exclaims with a blush. "Taking porn from me is like taking away my fangs if I was a wolf!"

That got Haruko giggled a bit from his reaction.

"Fine, then can you get me two towels from the drawer that is second from the top." Haruko asks.

"As you command!" Takeru said as he heads towards the drawer. "Okay...Two drawers from the top would mean this one."

Haruko reacts with a shock which Takeru picked the wrong drawer.

"NO, NOT THAT ONE!" Haruko yelled with a blush as she ran towards him, accidentally tripped him over when she was laying on top him, looking at each other with a blush. Until, the door came open which it was Uruchi and Aki.

"Haruko!" Uruchi called her. "We've figured out how to help you get-"

Before she was able to finish her sentence, Uruchi and Aki have noticed that Haruko was on top of Takeru which her face was paled while Aki blushed with embarrassment.

"This-This Isn't What It Looks Like!" Both Haruko and Takeru said in unison which Uruchi wasn't buying it.

"Ooyama!" Uruchi said with her menacing aura. "What Were You Trying To Do To Haruko!"

With that, Uruchi tossed Takeru out of the window from the bungalow, landed with a hard impact.

When the situation was settled down, both Aki and Minori have already found the solution of Haruko's sickness.

"Sakuyabime!" Takeru questions.

"Yes." Aki nods as she began to explain. "It's a rare flower that only blooms in places with dense Element. Haruko's fever is being caused by her Element level being unstable. I'd like to treat her using my Element, but that would put her at risk since she doesn't have her powers."

"So in other words, you want to make her eat the flower before you treat her?" Zane questions, placing his hand on her chin.

"Exactly." Aki agrees.

"I think I've heard stories about that flower!" Kuuna exclaimed. "They say a mysterious flower blooms on an island far from here!"

"I've heard those stories too, but...hmm..." Aki ponders. "If I go back and get the supply in Tenbi, it'll take about 2-to-3 days, but..."

"Then allow us to find it for you!" Takeru said seriously with resolve.

"Yeah!" Chacha agrees.

"If he insists." Himegami added with a smirk.

"But we've also heard that on the island that has dead spirits and monsters that were wander around on this island." Jin explains, leaving Himegami scared.

"Ha...Hah! So what if there were monsters?" Himegami asks, maintain her composure but she was frightened. "We just need to find that Sakuyabime quickly and leave..."

"That's the idea, but some of us will have to stay here and keep an eye on Haruko." Jin said seriously.

The members of Maken-Ki agreed to Jin's suggestion when they form a group. Jin forms a group with Aki, Furan, Yuuka, Chacha, and Uruchi to stay and keep an eye on Haruko while Zane forms a group with Takeru, Kuuna, Himegami, and Kengo. Minori forms a group with Azuki, Inaho, and Kimi as they began to search the flower from the island, but Minori's group have got lost which of course the Principal have been lacking some senses of direction while Kuuna began to guide them towards the flower.

"Kuuna, are you sure this is the right place?" Kengo questions.

"Yes! I think!" Kuuna said with a smirk.

"Then you don't know!" Kengo exclaims, leaving Zane bonked his head.

"Kengo, it's no use arguing right now." Zane said with annoyance. "Right now, finding that flower is our priority and we've gotta keep looking."

"He's right, we have to find that flower." Himegami agrees with her face paled, thinking about those monsters from this island.

"But I still don't understand why you had to come along with us." Takeru said with annoyance, carrying Kuuna on his shoulders.

"I'm the type that helps my friends when they're in need!" Kuuna exclaimed.

"Whatever." Takeru said.

"She's gotta point, Takeru. Besides, the least we can do is let Kuuna help us out. If anyone knows where the flower is, it'll be her." Zane pointed out, leaving Takeru sighed with defeat which he's right about it.

Until, they saw someone coming from the tree as they get into their fighting stance.

"Who's there!?" Himegami demands as the mysterious figure revealed himself.

His appearance of a young man with a long grey hair tied into a ponytail and red eyes. He wore a tuxedo with a grey vest and white shirt underneath, a bow-tie, and a monocle glasses on his right eye.

"Forgive me. I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but when I heard you say Sakuyabime I..." He said with a chuckle as he introduced himself. "Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Hakuto Kirishima. I am a wandering botanist."

"A wandering..." Kengo said with dull expression.

"Botanist? That has to be a lie." Takeru added. "You don't look like one."

"Yeah, what's with the suit?" Kengo questions.

"Dressing up like this is just a hobby of mine." Hakuto answered with a chuckle. "But you see, I too am searching for a Sakuyabime. I would greatly appreciate it if you would allow me to travel with you. My vast knowledge of flowers would certainly be helpful for you."

Zane, Kengo, Takeru, Himegami, and Kuuna were doubtful about Hakuto's words which he might be helpful for his knowledge.

"What should we do?" Takeru questions.

"I don't sense any Element coming from him. He's probably just a normal person." Himegami told him.

"Then how did he sneak up on us?" Kengo questions, leaving Zane sighed with annoyance which he can understand about Hakuto.

"I don't blame you for doubting me." Hakuto said with sad expression. "However, because I am a normal human being, I hold nothing but great respect and awe for all of you who were fortunate enough to be born with powers. Especially for those of you hold rare abilities that no one else can possess."

That got them, except Zane convinced which he felt something shady about him.

"So what should we do guys?" Takeru asks, nervously chuckled.

"Well, he's really insistent on coming along." Himegami said with a smirk.

"I agree." Kengo agrees, nervously chuckled. "His knowledge of flowers would be a great help, too. Besides, we don't want to lose to Minori's group."

"I wouldn't be so sure." Zane told them with a sigh, earned their attention. "Knowing Principal Minori, she only got them lost since she lacks some sense of direction."

That got them sweat drop which they figured that he was right about Minori as they headed towards the flowers with Hakuto's help. He told them there was a shortcut that will lead straight to the flower which it will be a mountain climb. When they got to the mountain, Kengo looked down which he was hugging on the mountain but Zane tied the rope on him while Takeru grabs the rope that tied to Hakuto while walking on the mountain and Himegami was floating on air along with Kuuna.

"Are you sure we're going the right way!?" Kengo asks with a sweat drop, too scared to move.

"This is a shortcut." Himegami answered as she looked at him. "I didn't know you were so afraid of heights."

"I wouldn't be if I was able to walk on air like you!" Kengo exclaimed with a hopeful smile.

"Sorry, but my power is only able to support myself and one other person." Himegami told him.

"Same here." Takeru added.

"Besides, I'm the only one with the rope that tied onto you. Now move it." Zane told him seriously as he trends on the mountain.

"Well then, let me tell you a story to help you forget about your fear." Hakuto offered politely.

"I...I never said I was scared of heights." Kengo said nervously, but Zane tugs the rope which he was telling him to keep moving.

"It's about a monster named 'Seko' that's said to be on this island." Hakuto told them.

"Oh yeah, I remember Yuuka talking about that." Takeru said, remembered that story.

"Yeah, same here." Zane added with annoyance which he didn't believe any of that story.

"Normally, they only play pranks on people who wander by, but on this island it's different." Hakuto explains. "The story is that a girl wandered around and got lost in this island. After wandering deep into the forest, she began hearing a voice calling out to her and when she turned around to see where was coming from, something grabbed her leg. 'Come...Come into the ground' and then pulled her into the ground, and she was never heard from again."

That got Himegami screamed as she spun Kuuna around like she was on the twister.

"Come on, seriously?" Zane questions with annoyance. "Do you honestly believe that garbage?"

"It's only a story that the locals tell. I made half of it up anyway." Hakuto answered with a chuckle.

"I think it made her even more scared!" Takeru exclaimed with annoyance.

"Ah, we can see it now." Hakuto said, pointing the land which Takeru and Zane saw it with surprised expression and Himegami stopped. "It's probably around that forest over there."

"The sooner we get there, the sooner that Himegami stops spinning Kuuna around." Zane said with a nod.

When they got towards the cliff, Zane gave Kuuna a hand which she was still dizzy from Himegami's ability while he, Takeru, and Himegami were going on ahead to find the flowers, but Kuuna noticed that Hakuto was putting the seeds on the ground.

"What are you doing?" Kuuna asks curiously.

"Planting seeds." Hakuto answered with a smile.

"Is that a mark for the next time you come back?" Kuuna questions skeptically.

"No, it's to commemorate the wonderful land that's around here." Hakuto shook his head.

"Commemorate?" Kengo asks.

"Allow me to explain." Hakuto said with a chuckle as he explains while taken his serrated knife. "In order for plants to grow up healthy, they need a 'Destiny.' A 'Destiny' to be damaged by wind and rain, a 'Destiny' to be stepped upon by a passing creature, a 'Destiny' to wilt from disease. All living things have a 'Destiny', I'm sure your 'Destiny' needed me to help fulfill your own, so I planted a new life to commemorate our meeting."

"I don't really understand." Kuuna said with scared expression, causing Kengo to raise his arm.

"I don't either, but could you put that dangerous looking blade away?" Kengo warned him. "If you're not careful, that thing can also be used to take away a person's 'Destiny.'"

"Worry not. It's only a knife that I carry to harvest edible plants." Hakuto assured with a smile. "But I'm sad that you were unable to understand what I was talking about."

"This place you're taking us too, the flower is really here, right?" Kengo questions with a glare since he noticed a serrated knife he was carrying.

"Of course." Hakuto answered. "You'll see for yourself soon enough."

Takeru have called them which they found something as they continue on foot, but when got here, they noticed a thick fog that surrounds them. Kengo grabbed Kuuna's hand so she won't get lost from the fog.

"Fog?" Takeru asks confusingly.

"Yeah." Himegami answered, examine the fog. "This fog, is actually a barrier."

"No kidding, someone must've created the barrier to prevent us for finding the damn flower." Zane agrees.

"Huh? What's wrong?" Hakuto questions.

"You don't hear that?" Takeru asks.

"I was sure the flower would be here." Hakuto told them. "I've searched every other place on this island myself already."

"I see." Himegai said, pulling those plants out of her ears. "You're a normal person so you didn't realize that this was actually a barrier."

"Leave!"

Suddenly, they heard a voice that was coming from here as they looked around.

"Leave!"

The voice grew louder when they saw a huge figure that looked like a 'Seko.'

"Leave!"

"AAAHHH! OKAY, I WANNA LEAVE!" Himegami screamed with a fright expression, shaking her arms when Kengo grabs hold of her.

"Calm down! That shadow and the voice is just part of the barrier!" Kengo assured her. "It's a low-level barrier so I'll break it in about 5 or 6 minutes!"

"I Can't Wait That Long! Break This Barrier Right Now, Zane!" Himegami exclaimed, pointing at him.

"Why are you asking me?" Zane questions with annoyance.

"Just Do Exactly What You Did To Akaya!?" Himegami answered with fright, leaving Zane growled with annoyance as he unleashed his gunblade.

"Okay, I'm about had enough of this bullshit." Zane said with annoyance as he unleashed his ability. "Demon Slice"

When he sliced the air, the twister of blades began to slice the huge structure, causing it to collapsed and the fog was cleared up when they saw flowers from the ground.

"There's your damn monster! Happy Now?" Zane asked sarcastically.

"You did it!" Himegami praised, missed the sarcasm.

"I'm sure of it." Hakuto said, examine the flower. "This flower, it's Sakuyabime."

"Hell Yeah!" Takeru and Kengo said in a unison with a smirk.

"So that big figure from before was this big rock, huh?" Kengo asks.

"O-Obviously! I knew it was a rock all along!" Himegami said with a smirk which Kengo and Takeru weren't buying it as Zane bonked her head.

"Shut up! You were just scared from that damn story." Zane told her with annoyance. "Let's just get those damn flowers and get the hell out of here."

With that, they began to gather some flowers and left the flower field which they began to wander about who would create a barrier to prevent anyone to go near the flower field. Zane kinda figured that those monsters have created the barrier since was able to sense them which he pretty much killed only two monsters.

Later that night, Aki began to heal Haruko with her Element along with the flower that Takeru and his group have found. When she finished healing Haruko, she began to woke up as she raised her body up with a gasp, but she headbutted Takeru's chin once again, causes them to wince with pain.

"Hello Haruko." Aki greets with a smile.

"Hi." Haruko greets back with teary eyes.

"Haruko!" Uruchi called her as she rush towards her senior, embracing her with teary eyes. "I'm so glad you're okay."

"Uruchi." Haruko said with shock, noticed that the fever was gone. "My fever's gone, thank you Miss Nijou."

"Not just me, you should actually say 'thank you'-"

Before Aki finished her sentence, they heard the door was slammed, revealed Azuki, Inaho, Minori, and Kimi when they finally found the flower.

"We-We found it!" Azuki said with a smirk.

"We found the flower!" Inaho added with a cat-like smile.

"To everyone else, including me." Aki finished her sentence with a smile, leaving Haruko surprised.

"Wait, she's awake? We're we too late?" Azuki questions with a shock, leaving Himegami nods with a smug smile while Azuki growled with frustration. "Damn! I knew we were gonna lose when they put Minori with us!"

"It's My Fault!?" Minori exclaimed with a question.

"YES!" Azuki yelled with anger.

"But I'm just glad she's alright." Inaho said with relief.

Haruko couldn't help but smile at her members.

"Thank you, everyone." Haruko thanked them.

"No need to thank us! Friends are always there to help each other!" Chacha said with a huge grin.

"Yup!" Yuuka agrees, clapping her hands.

"But I'm still mad that we lost to them!" Azuki growled with anger.

"Only a petty woman worries about winning and losing." Himegami said with a huff.

"What Did You Say!?" Azuki shouts with anger as she and Himegami began to argue.

"I told you." Taker said with a smile as he turned to her. "You don't have to worry about being helpful to everyone all the time."

"I don't want to hear that from someone who's always trying to help everyone around them." Haruko retorts, giggled a bit.

"Well, that's because I-"

"However." Haruko interrupts when she place her hand on his shoulder. "I think I'll try taking your advice this time."

Takeru began to nod with agreement since she's gonna take advice from that point on.

Zane leaned against the wall at the bungalow when he noticed that Kuuna wanted to talk to him privately. Kuuna told him that Hakuto wasn't a local from this island.

"So you're saying that Hakuto wasn't from around this island?" Zane questions confusingly.

"Yeah, I've never seen him before either." Kuuna answered.

"Hmm...come to think of it, he's not much of a Maken user. He's probably from somewhere." Zane ponders. "Got any ideas?"

"No, but he did find the flowers for us, so we should at least thank him." Kuuna told him with a smile.

"Yeah you're right." Zane nods with agreement.

"He should be outside." Kuuna said when they noticed that Hakuto was burying Mori, leaving her shock with horror as she rush towards her cat. "Mo-Mori! What Are You Doing!?"

"I was sure that his soul was already been called to Heaven, so I-"

"What Are You Talking About!? He's Obviously Sleeping, You Idiot!?" Kuuna yelled as him.

"'Idiot?' Are you referring to me?" Hakuto questions with hatred.

"Of Course I Am!" Kuuna answered without any second thoughts, causing Hakuto to glare at her with killing intent.

"I Understand...A Human...Looking Down...On me..." Hakuto said with a killing aura, glaring at her. "This Is Why...Humans Are...Helpless...To Me They're...Not Needed..."

When Hakuto began to used his serrated knife to kill her, Zane began to unleash his gunblade, aiming at Hakuto.

"Lightning Shot" Zane fires his bullet at Hakuto, causing him to scream in agony when he felt the electricity around his body.

"What the hell were you trying to pull!?" Zane questions with anger. Hakuto regained his composure as he slowly recovered himself when he got up.

"Forgive me, it would seem that I've lost my composure." Hakuto apologizes politely.

"You were obviously asking for it, you son of a bitch!" Zane shouts. "I thought you were shady at first, but not I don't believe what I thought you're who you say you are!"

"That's unfortunate, it seems I'm no longer welcome. I shall take my leave now." Hakuto said as he was about to leave. Zane keeps aiming at him, not letting his guard down as he turned his head to him. "But perhaps you're right. 'Botanist' was one of my 42 masks that I wear, but maybe I've worn it too often. Let's see...I guess I should wear the mask that all of you are most familiar with...I've got it, Kamigari, I am one of the 4 'Shishigami' that serves directly upon Emperor Ouken, Hakuto Kiriashi. Please remember it for next time we meet."

With that, Hakuto began to disappear into the mist which leaves Zane and Kuuna shocked since he did help them find a flower for Haruko, but now he was one of the Kamigari agents as Zane began to find Jin to explain the situation.

That's it for the 25th chapter. Sorry about the delay, got pretty much lazy for the writing and some a lot of shit that needs to be done. Anyway, wish to give you guys a Happy New Year!