Arigatou to Anime Princess, Shichan Godess, Sailor Moon, Demyn, Taura Callisto, and Sara Lania for the kind reviews. Blushes profusely. I am so glad that you guys are enjoying this fic. Here's the definition of a Mary Sue for you all. Well at least the way I understand it.



Mary Sue: A character that a fanfic writer creates that typically has these attributes: beauty, wealth, talent, extreme intelligence and the only point of her being in the story is to get the guy. Mary Sue can either rescue the hero or be rescued by him but, in any case, she overshadows everyone else in the cast with the possible exception of her guy and he generally plays second fiddle to her also. The real plot in any of her stories is how she can get the guy. If your character has a purpose in the story that actually advances the plot then there is a good chance that she is not a Mary Sue and does belong there.



She is often portrayed as the most beautiful creature to ever live. She always saves the day, or dies heroically in the attempt, causing even the most cold hearted of the other characters to cry. She either becomes a figure of authority, defies it at every turn, or manages to do both at the same time. She has a wide variety of talents, putting her above and beyond mere mortals, and she's often named after the author. (Which mine is not) In short, Mary Sue is what everyone wants to be, and no one actually is.



Looks over her definition of a Mary Sue and grimaces. Man does that sound preachy or what? Oh well, you did ask . . .(giggles) So please tell me do you guys think Kira is a Mary Sue? Okay, enough gibbering on with the fic.





Chapter 5:



Kira was beginning to feel drowsy when an arch of pain brought her back from her semiconscious state. Jerking away from Sage, she stumbled from the bed, tears streaming down her face as she cried out Ryo's name. The cup of tea went crashing to the floor, unnoticed. Have to reach him, no matter the cost. She stumbled across the hall to where Ryo was crying out in pain, but before she could reach him she was lifted into Sage's arms.



Sage was puzzled as to why she suddenly jerked away and ran unerringly across the hall to Ryo. Shrugging his shoulders, he guessed he would have to wait to find out since the girl was still struggling in his arms, and Sage was finding it harder and harder to keep his grip on her.



Kira looked up at him without seeing him and she pushed against his chest in an effort to make him let her go. She had to reach Ryo and now.



Sage looked at the struggling girl and could not make head or tails out of what was going on. But as he watched Ryo's face contort in pain only to see the girl close her eyes as the same pain washed over her, he realized that the girl was feeling the pain that Ryo was feeling. The realization that the two of them were somehow connected began to sink in, and Sage let the girl fall from his suddenly lax grasp. She managed to catch herself before she hit the floor and standing, she climbed up onto Ryo's bed.



Cye had looked up as Kira entered the room with Sage fast on her heels. He had been rather surprised and mildly amused when he noticed Sage scoop her up and attempt to take her back across the hall to Rowen's room. He let a small smile quark his lips when he saw Kira struggling vainly against Sage's grip to get to Ryo. However, his expression soon changed when he saw Kira fall abruptly from Sage's grasp. Looking up at his friend's face, he noticed that Sage had gone ashen.



"Sage, what is it? What's wrong, besides the obvious?" Cye asked him gently looking at Ryo and Kira.



"She, they . . . there's some sort of connection between the two of them" Sage whispered, still in shock over how strong the connection was.



Cye looked at Sage and then over at the two figures on the bed before he froze solid. Cye could not believe his eyes. He shook his head trying to clear up the double image he was seeing, but it persisted. Kira and Ryo looked almost identical. "Is this for real?" he wondered aloud.



"Yeah" came Sage's response.



Kira was totally focused on Ryo and the pain that he was in and never noticed the total silence that suddenly permeated the room. She laid down on the queen size bed next to Ryo, so she could let her forehead rest against his more easily. The symbols of Virtue and Compassion flared to life as Kira tried once again attempted to draw out the dark magic that was invading Ryo's soul.



Cye and Sage stood with their mouths hanging open as they watched the light from the bed increase as did the heat. They took a few steps backward, unsure if the heat was real or they were simply imagining it. The heat abated as soon as the reddish orange glow faded away from the two figures on the bed.



Kira let unconscious take over once more as her energy faded out. She was at ease knowing that Ryo was now in less pain. Sage placed is hand over Ryo's still faintly glowing kanji and began concentrating, his eyes closing. Ryo was soon enveloped in a green haze as Sage tried to check him over. Sitting back on his heels with wonder, Sage opened his violet eyes to regard his unaware leader.



Ryo's aura was almost completely healed, but there was still one part that lingered, looking like it was being torn apart. A blackness that made Sage uncomfortable to even think about, let alone live with it. Shaking, his head, he looked up at Cye who was watching him. "I think he'll be waking up soon."



Cye nodded at the swordsman as Sage turned his attention back to Kira.



Just looking at her made him swallow hard as his emotions played havoc with his mind. He tried to ignore the uneasy feeling he was getting by beginning to run a check over Kira's aura. It appeared to be still strong, but it had become a slightly darker shade than before. Sage could feel the darkness that had been wrapped around Ryo's heart was now inside Kira, but that she was somehow dispelling it. Sage looked up at Cye in wonderment. "I am not sure what is going on but I think you should get the others. Kira just absorbed some of what is ailing Ryo and appears to be dispelling it somehow."



Cye blinked several times before nodding at Sage in understanding. He soon vanished from the room to go downstairs and get the others.





Sage looked down at the black-haired girl on the bed and swore that he saw a green thread encircle her wrist and his just before she came to. Then the thread disappeared. Sage shook his head, sure he was imagining things.



Kira looked over at him but immediately turned her attentions to Ryo.



Sage felt a piece of his heart give out. It was obvious that Kira loved Ryo, but Sage wanted her to love him. Sage's eyes widened in astonishment as he wondered where that thought had come from, when he heard a voice say softly "you and she belong together. You are a set that has lost it's mate." Sage turned around but there was no one there.



White Blaze padded into the room and instantly recognized the girl. He went up to her and rubbed against her legs, purring slightly.



Kira looked up and exclaimed "White Blaze, it's so good to see you." Kira hugged the tiger and looked up to see a pensive expression on Sage's face. Mistaking Sage's expression for concern over Ryo's well-being, she said, "don't worry Sage, he'll be fine. I won't let anything happen to him."



Sage looked at the girl and felt her power still radiating even though she was weak. "I believe you, but I think we all need to talk about a few things."



"Yes, you are probably right, but let's wait for Ryo. He should be waking up soon."



"Ok, but could you at least tell me something first?"



"Hmmm . . . what is it?" Kira asked the golden haired warrior.



Sage looked at her and asked the question that had been bugging him ever since he first saw her. "Have we met before?"



Kira looked startled for a second and then thought what harm can it do. "No, we have never met, but I have touched your soul before, Sage of the Halo."



Sage looked at her a second before a slow smile formed on his face. "I knew it, you are the one that has been invading my dreams. Hey, wait a sec. How did you know that I go by Halo?"



"Yes, how did you know?" asked a voice from behind them. Ryo's voice.



'Damn, I should have felt him awakening. I wonder how much he heard,' thought Kira. Kira looked guiltily over at her brother who was still blissfully unaware of their relationship. "I have been watching you five for awhile now, but I never approached any of you because I had to be sure I was right. But when Damien attacked Ryo today I simply could not stand there and let him kill you. Not when I could do something to help you."



Ryo looked at the girl and again he felt that spark of recognition. 'What is it about her that is familiar?' he thought to himself. Out loud he said, "I was doing fine against that Damien fellow until this intense pain washed over me. Do you know what it was? I still feel a bit of it inside my heart."



Kira looked sadly at her brother for she knew that a piece of it remained. She was simply too weak to draw out all of the dark magic on her own. "It is a dark magic that my former masters are trying to use so that they can weaken me in order to return me to their ranks," she stated bitterly. "But I will not let them do this to you. I will find a way to get rid of it once and for all."



Ryo looked at the girl, still not comprehending why his illness would be draining her but Sage knew all too well.



Sage placed a protective arm around the girl and through his mind link with Ryo he stated, "her name is Kira Dayken and she has some sort of a connection to you. When you are in pain she can feel it and she has been somehow absorbing your pain into herself thus weakening her further."



Ryo nodded his thanks and turned to Kira. "Kira, what is going on? Please explain so that I can understand why you have this connection to me." By this time the rest of the crew had arrived and taken up places around the room to listen to Kira's story.