Ni-hao! This is "Cherished One."
For some time, Kei couldn't understand Alisa motivation to being with Feral and Callie.
Now she's hurt, and Kei blames and takes it out on Feral and Callie. Is this sisterly devotion or
something more? Also, a new Duelist is chosen by World's End. Who is it?
Author's notes: Same warning as before.
Onee-sama means older sister in Japanese. Very honorable.
Tii-tii is the sound a gecko makes in Japanese.
I think I have my writing ways back. Hopefully I can get to other stories.
Only two more stories in this Saga!
Thanks to all that have helped me with this, like Renee and Algena. And thank you for
all those reviews!
As always, send any comments or questions to AkaneKitty@aol.com. Or, drop me a line
in my review section at Fanfiction.net. Enjoy!
Ja ne,
AkaneKitty
*************
Epsilon:
Cherished One
*************
"Happy birthday, Alisa!"
"Happy birthday!"
"Such a lovely birthday she-kat!"
"She has so many presents, too!"
"Onee-sama..."
"Kei, why are you looking like that?"
"I have a present for my sister..."
"Tii-tii."
"Eh... A gecko? That dirty looking thing? Take it outside!"
"But, mom!"
"Give it to me!"
"No!"
"Wait a minute."
"Onee-sama?"
"This is a wonderful gift, Kei. The best I've ever had."
"Onee-sama..."
*****************************************************************
By the order of the provost of Epsilon Academy:
Lt. Commander Steele has been punished by expulsion for blatantly violating the
Academy's rules of conduct.
Effective immediately.
*******************************************************************
"Hey, did you hear about Steele?"
"Yeah . . . Just what did he do?"
"He got expelled?!"
"For what?"
"Look at the announcement board, silly!"
"What will happen to PsychOps?"
"It will probably transfer to other members of the Executive Council."
"Like to Major Clawson?"
"...or to Major Furlong."
"No! Anyone but him!"
"Shut up! He's probably around here!"
Members of the PsychOps unit and various other personnel gather around Epsilon
Academy's announcement board, still buzzing about the news.
Lt. Commander Steele had been expelled.
Some breathed sighs of relief; Steele was an ogre, but others worried about what Council
member their unit would be assigned to. Many prayed for Clawson.
While most of everyone's attention was focused on the announcement board, Jake and
Chance turn their attention to Steele, who was walking toward the entrance of Epsilon.
"That fool...Without any permission from World's End, he tried to have a personal Duel
for possession of the Rose Bride." Chance does a little snort. "He is shameless."
Jake adjusts his uniform. "You know, I figured he would do something like that. But, he
seems different now that he's actually done it."
"In the end, he turned out to be the laughingstock of the Executive Council."
*******************************************************************
Steele, belongings in paw, finally reaches the front gates of Epsilon. Alisa, shoulder
bandaged and arm in a loose sling, joins him.
"Just to let you know, Steele," Alisa smiles at him, "I will do everything in my power to
get you reinstated. Epsilon wouldn't be the same without you."
Steele says nothing, reaching into his bag and extracting a diary. "Sorry to further burden
you..."
"Your and Calico's exchange diary?" Alisa takes the diary. "I see. I'll make sure it gets
to her."
"Sorry about all the trouble I caused..."
"Don't worry about it. You're just a passionate kat." Alisa says. "Good luck to you."
Steele turns and walks away, exiting the campus. Alisa watches him for a little while, but
then walks toward a nearby trash incinerator.
Alisa looks at it one last time and then tosses the diary into it.
********************************************************************
"If it cannon break its shell, the chick will die without being born."
"We are the chick."
"The world is our egg."
"If we don't break the World's shell, we will die without truly being born."
"Smash the World's Shell!"
"For the revolution of the world!"
*****************************************************************
"We have received another letter from World's End. Another Duel is upon us."
Jake and Chance sit in their usual spots around the table atop the South Tower. Alisa is
standing up, staring at the forest. Chance reaches across the table for the letter while Jake
diligently takes notes. He opens it.
"If we follow the sequence correctly, it's your turn next, Commander."
Alisa walks away a little. "It would be..."
"Commander Mifurr hasn't recovered from her wounds yet." Jake says, pausing his note
taking. "I'll take her place."
Chance smiles a little and folds his arms. "You're no match for Feral, Jake. I'll go. This
time, I will crush him for sure."
"What makes you think you would beat him this time? I'll go."
"You will not!"
"Now, now, you two. Settle down." Alisa laughs. "There is yet another Duelist."
Jake clicks his pen.
"But, that's impossible!" Jake exclaims.
"World's End has selected someone besides us to fight for the Rose Bride?" Chance
asks. "You're telling me there is someone else that deserves to be a Duelist?"
Alisa smiles at him. "Yes."
*****************************************************************
A slap is heard, coming from the greenhouse.
Feral reals, partially because he didn't expect it, and partially because of the gall that she-
kat had.
"The hell... Are you looking for a suspension, Lieutenant?" Feral clenches his paws.
"It's your fault my sister got hurt! It's all your fault!" Kei shouts at Feral. "Why did my
sister have to get hurt over someone like you?"
"I didn't ask her to do anything!"
"Don't give me that! Your words won't heal my sister's wounds!"
"Kei! Kei!"
Kei turns to see Alisa enter the greenhouse, with Callie behind her. "Onee-sama..."
"This wound is fine." Alisa says, walking over to Feral. "I was glad to help."
"You'd better put a leash on her, Alisa." Feral crosses his arms. "Striking an officer,
especially a higher-ranking one, is grounds for suspension."
"I don't care! I will not forgive you for this! Ever!"
Kei storms out of the greenhouse, and Callie barely has time to get out the way.
"It's nothing to worry about, Ulysses." Alisa smiles at him. "Kei's just upset, that's all.
She'll calm down."
"I hope so."
******************************************************************
Later that night...
Ulysses picks over his food in the dining room, his Commander persona having vanished.
His cheek still stings.
"I should have expected something from Steele." Feral says aloud, mostly to himself.
"I'll never be a Knight this way..."
The dining room doors open, and Callie walks in carrying a box. She places it on the
table. "What's wrong Uly-sama? You seem depressed."
"I'm wondering...if I'll ever be a Knight..."
Callie's eyes widen for a second, but returns to normal. "Why do you say that?"
"I should have known Steele would try something." Feral sighs.
"You didn't do anything wrong, Uly-sama."
"And now, Alisa got hurt, too..."
"I wonder if everything's okay?"
"I hope so." Feral looks at her. "Think I should do a courtesy call?"
Callie brightens a bit. "Oh, I wonder if you're hungry?"
"Thanks, but I don't feel like ice milk right now..."
Callie opens the box, and pulls out a gecko. "Tii-tii."
"What should I name it?"
"Aww... Wait a minute, you were talking about the gecko, right?" Feral sighs. "Oh
brother..."
"Um, Uly-sama..."
"Hmm?"
"There are plenty of roses in bloom right now. Why don't you give some to Mifurr-san? "
Callie says. "You are going to visit her, right?"
"Callie..."
"After all, she-kats like getting roses." Callie smiles at him.
"Callie... Thanks."
**************************************************************
Later still...
Kei sits in her room, looking out of the window at the moon.
"Onee-sama is always so nice to me... Always shielding me." Kei sighs, drawing her
knees to her chest. "Her smiling face was all mine, but..."
A flash of movement from the gardens catches Kei's attention, who gets up to get a
better look. She spots Alisa practicing with her sword. Kei takes off.
***************************************************************
"Don't Onee-sama! You'll aggravate your wound!"
"Hmm?" Alisa looks up to Kei running toward her. "Oh, Kei... I'll be all right. If I don't
practice, I'll get out of shape."
"Please stop!" Kei grabs Alisa's arm.
"Hey, you don't have to go that far..."
"Please stop..." Kei, eyes tearing, continues to clutch Alisa's arm. "If something
happened to you, I'd..."
"Nothing will happen to me." Alisa wipes Kei's tears away. "Okay?"
Kei releases Alisa's arm. "Why do you like him so much?"
"Huh?"
"Feral! Why is he so important to you? All he does is hang around that mousy Calico
Briggs!"
Alisa smiles. "Well... He reminds me of a kat I saw."
"Saw?"
"When I was little, I had to pay my respects to a family friend who had died. I didn't
want to, so I snuck off." Alisa smiles. "Suddenly the rain came up, and I had to take shelter in a
church. There, I saw him."
Kei blinks. "Him?"
"Yes, him... My Knight." Alisa looks dreamy. "A kat who comforted a kitten when she
was all alone, without anyone to prompt him."
Kei just looks at her sister, who smiles.
"Ulysses reminds me of that kat... And, I want him to my Knight..." Alisa begins to walk
toward their house.
"...Not Calico's."
******************************************************************
The next day...
"Huh? Alisa's not here?"
"No, she didn't come in today..."
"I see."
Feral and Callie stand outside Alisa's office, where an assistant comes to talk to them.
"But, I guess you can see her at the party." The assistant says.
Feral looks at her. "Party?"
"Yes. It's in her honor, at the President's House. I suppose she would have to show up
there."
******************************************************************
At the President's House...
"Happy Birthday, Commander!"
"This is from the both of us."
"Thank you!"
Feral takes a surprised look around, him holding the roses while Callie holds her box. "I
see... It's a birthday party."
"Didn't you know?" Callie asks.
Feral looks at her. "You knew?"
"Yes."
Meanwhile, Chance stands besides Alisa's chair as Alisa receives some gifts.
"Come on, you can tell me." Chance says as Alisa pauses. "Just who is this new
Duelist?"
"Now, Chance..." Alisa smiles at him. "This is my birthday party. Why ruin an enjoyable
evening with talk about World's End?"
"But, the Duel is set for tomorrow night!"
"Don't worry. The stage is already set."
Chance throws up his paws. "Fine then."
Alisa watches as Chance joins Jake, but then notices Feral and Callie walking toward
her. "Hello. I'm glad you came." She then spies the roses in Feral's paws. "What's that?"
"Don't get me wrong, Alisa." Feral says. "This is a 'get well' visit. Thanks for the other
day."
"Oh, really?" Alisa laughs.
"What's so funny?"
"You making an excuse like that to see me. Just I figured."
Feral narrows his eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing. I'm glad you came."
"Such a shameful kat!"
"Huh?"
Clicking of heels are heard when Kei places herself between Alisa and Feral and knocks
the roses from Feral's paws. "Are you trying to seduce my sister with these?"
"The hell are you talking about?" Feral almost growls at her. "I've just about had enough
of you!"
"Kei, stop this!" Alisa pleads.
"No, you stop it!" Kei clenches her paws. "He's the one that hurt you!"
"I did no such--"
"Please don't be angry with Uly-sama!" Callie steps in front of Feral. "It was all Steele-
san's fault!"
"Shut up!" Kei slaps Callie who falls to the ground, still holding the box. "You're the
cause of all of this!"
"Tii-tii." A sound is heard from the box. Kei freezes for a moment.
Feral goes to Callie's aid. "Stop it! What do think you're doing?"
"I won't let you have her!"
"What?"
Kei's blue eyes flash with determination. "I won't let someone like you have my onee-
sama!"
The crowd at the birthday immediately starts buzzing, while Alisa secretly smiles. Kei
storms off.
"Is that true? Feral and Mifurr as a couple?"
"I just can't see it..."
Feral takes a minute to compose himself, and then helps Callie up. "Look, no offense, but
I'm not interested."
Alisa breaks composure for a second. "Oh?"
Feral looks at Callie. "Besides, I'm kinda attached right now."
Callie blinks. "Uly-sama..."
"And, since it seems obvious we're not welcome, we'll leave."
"No!" Alisa stands up. "Please, you two, join me in the garden."
Feral looks at her, but then proceeds outside with Callie. Alisa breathes a sigh of relief
and follows them.
"*That worked well... Almost too well...*"
************************************************************
"I suppose it's my fault...I spoiled her so."
"I guess when you're the World's Greatest Sister, no one else can compete."
Alisa laughs a little as she, Callie, and Feral sit around a table in the garden. "I suppose it
started at my birthday party when I was little. Kei didn't have a present, so she went and found a
gecko."
"A gecko?" Feral asks.
"It disappeared soon after, but I remember it was that present that made me the
happiest."
"Oh! I almost forgot!" Callie produces the box. "Happy birthday!"
"Tii-tii."
Alisa looks into the box. "A gecko!"
Callie looks at her. "You don't like it?"
"No, I love it. A wonderful gift."
**********************************************************
"Onee-sama, can you help me pick some grapes?"
"Okay. In a minute."
"But, I can't reach them! Please onee-sama?"
"Just hold on a minute! I'm playing with my gecko...Ouch!"
"Stop that!"
"Quit it! It was an accident!"
"Go away, Kei!"
**************************************************************
"It's all your fault, because you came between my sister and me! She's mine and mine
alone!"
Kei tosses a lavender colored rose in front of Feral. He stands up while Jake and Chance
appear.
"Stop it, Kei!" Jake says to her. "Do you even know what you're doing?"
"Don't try to escape me, Commander." Kei looks determined.
Chance shakes his head. "If you continue to do this, you'll be expelled like Steele."
Kei looks determined. "I don't care."
Alisa smiles at her. "The Academy has its rules. Kei, give me your left paw."
Everyone gasps as Alisa slips a Rose Signet onto Kei's claw.
Kei stares at it. "Onee-sama..."
"Have you forgotten, Kei? The Rose Signet is the one thing that allows you to enter the
world of the Duels" Alisa says. "Now, show me your power, as one chosen by World's End."
Jake clicks his pen.
"So, she's also a Duelist?" He asks.
Alisa then turns to Feral. "Tomorrow night, in the Arena, you will fight this next Duel,
Ulysses."
Feral looks back at her. "Then I await her challenge."
*******************************************************************
The next night...
Feral finds himself in the Arena, flanked by Callie. Kei is there in uniform similar to her
sisters, except that its color is lavender and it has a shorter skirt. She has with her a long, curved
sword. Alisa is there as well.
Callie goes to Kei and pins a lavender rose on her, and then returns to Feral to pin a white
and black rose on him.
"Do we really have to do this?" Feral sighs.
"You two get on my nerves! You're always hanging around my sister." Kei says, gripping
her sword.
Feral looks over to Alisa, who says nothing.
"This fight is for real!"
"So it is." Feral sighs again. "Let's go."
"O Rose of the noble castle..." Callie closes her eyes. A sphere of light appears in front of
her chest.
"Spirit of Dios that slumbers within..." Callie continues to chant, the sphere of light
growing bigger.
"Harken unto thy Master, and reveal to us now..."
Callie falls backwards, where Feral catches her. Within the sphere of light an elaborate
hilt of a sword appears. Feral grabs it and begins to extract the sword.
"...the power to Revolutionize the world!"
The clock tower's bells begin to ring, signaling the start of the Duel. Kei brings her sword
close to her body, and then charges at Feral. He quickly ducks out of the way.
"She fast..." Feral says through gritted teeth.
"Don't underestimate me!"
Kei charges again, slashing at Feral. He parries her attacks until they lock their swords
together, facing face to face.
"For the past ten years, I have observed my sister's techniques. I know everything about
her, including her fighting style." Kei glares at Feral. "Her fighting style is my fighting style."
"My Queen gave me this ring, and she will lead me to victory!"
"I think not!"
Feral's ring begins to glow, and a light comes down from the castle.
"I can't see!" Kei steps back for a moment.
Feral knocks the sword out of Kei's paws, and it flies upwards. A second later his slices
at her rose.
Lavender petals fill the air, and the clock tower's bells begin to ring. Kei's sword lands
besides her, digging into the Arena's floor.
"The fight is over." Feral says after a while.
"The fight has only begun!"
"Huh?"
Feral turns around to see Kei reaching into her uniform and extracting a small dagger.
She lunges at him, but he could only move so much. The dagger tears into Feral's right arm. He
staggers backwards, clutching his arm. Blood oozes from the wound. Callie gasps.
"Stop it, Kei-san!" Callie says. "The rules say you lose when the rose is cut from your
chest!"
"I don't care!"
Kei retrieves her sword and charges at Feral with it and the dagger. Feral dodges as best
he could by transferring his sword to his good arm. Kei is relentless.
"Stop it, Kei! This fight is meaningless!" Feral yells at her, but it was no good. He finds
himself pinned against a pillar. He prepares himself and Kei goes for another attack.
"That's enough!" Alisa shouts.
********************************************************************
"Tii-tii."
The muffled voice of a gecko is heard in a cardboard box, all taped up.
A kitten Kei is at a reservoir, looking down into the raging water. She pushes the box into
the water.
She watches as the box float down the reservoir, until it reaches a waterfall type device.
The box comes open.
**********************************************************************
"I'm sorry! Onee-sama, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to!" Kei cries in Alisa arms. Callie
tends to Feral, who had slid down the pillar to the ground.
"Uly-sama! Please talk to me!" Callie gingerly touches Feral's arm.
"...It hurts..." Feral says after a moment.
"I'm sorry about that, Ulysses. I'll go call for a doctor." Alisa says. "You should try
leaving the Arena."
As Callie helps Feral up, Alisa leaves with Kei. Alisa secretly smiles.
"*It's all going according to plan!*"
"*The Power of Dios...and Ulysses himself...will be mine!*"
To be continued...
For some time, Kei couldn't understand Alisa motivation to being with Feral and Callie.
Now she's hurt, and Kei blames and takes it out on Feral and Callie. Is this sisterly devotion or
something more? Also, a new Duelist is chosen by World's End. Who is it?
Author's notes: Same warning as before.
Onee-sama means older sister in Japanese. Very honorable.
Tii-tii is the sound a gecko makes in Japanese.
I think I have my writing ways back. Hopefully I can get to other stories.
Only two more stories in this Saga!
Thanks to all that have helped me with this, like Renee and Algena. And thank you for
all those reviews!
As always, send any comments or questions to AkaneKitty@aol.com. Or, drop me a line
in my review section at Fanfiction.net. Enjoy!
Ja ne,
AkaneKitty
*************
Epsilon:
Cherished One
*************
"Happy birthday, Alisa!"
"Happy birthday!"
"Such a lovely birthday she-kat!"
"She has so many presents, too!"
"Onee-sama..."
"Kei, why are you looking like that?"
"I have a present for my sister..."
"Tii-tii."
"Eh... A gecko? That dirty looking thing? Take it outside!"
"But, mom!"
"Give it to me!"
"No!"
"Wait a minute."
"Onee-sama?"
"This is a wonderful gift, Kei. The best I've ever had."
"Onee-sama..."
*****************************************************************
By the order of the provost of Epsilon Academy:
Lt. Commander Steele has been punished by expulsion for blatantly violating the
Academy's rules of conduct.
Effective immediately.
*******************************************************************
"Hey, did you hear about Steele?"
"Yeah . . . Just what did he do?"
"He got expelled?!"
"For what?"
"Look at the announcement board, silly!"
"What will happen to PsychOps?"
"It will probably transfer to other members of the Executive Council."
"Like to Major Clawson?"
"...or to Major Furlong."
"No! Anyone but him!"
"Shut up! He's probably around here!"
Members of the PsychOps unit and various other personnel gather around Epsilon
Academy's announcement board, still buzzing about the news.
Lt. Commander Steele had been expelled.
Some breathed sighs of relief; Steele was an ogre, but others worried about what Council
member their unit would be assigned to. Many prayed for Clawson.
While most of everyone's attention was focused on the announcement board, Jake and
Chance turn their attention to Steele, who was walking toward the entrance of Epsilon.
"That fool...Without any permission from World's End, he tried to have a personal Duel
for possession of the Rose Bride." Chance does a little snort. "He is shameless."
Jake adjusts his uniform. "You know, I figured he would do something like that. But, he
seems different now that he's actually done it."
"In the end, he turned out to be the laughingstock of the Executive Council."
*******************************************************************
Steele, belongings in paw, finally reaches the front gates of Epsilon. Alisa, shoulder
bandaged and arm in a loose sling, joins him.
"Just to let you know, Steele," Alisa smiles at him, "I will do everything in my power to
get you reinstated. Epsilon wouldn't be the same without you."
Steele says nothing, reaching into his bag and extracting a diary. "Sorry to further burden
you..."
"Your and Calico's exchange diary?" Alisa takes the diary. "I see. I'll make sure it gets
to her."
"Sorry about all the trouble I caused..."
"Don't worry about it. You're just a passionate kat." Alisa says. "Good luck to you."
Steele turns and walks away, exiting the campus. Alisa watches him for a little while, but
then walks toward a nearby trash incinerator.
Alisa looks at it one last time and then tosses the diary into it.
********************************************************************
"If it cannon break its shell, the chick will die without being born."
"We are the chick."
"The world is our egg."
"If we don't break the World's shell, we will die without truly being born."
"Smash the World's Shell!"
"For the revolution of the world!"
*****************************************************************
"We have received another letter from World's End. Another Duel is upon us."
Jake and Chance sit in their usual spots around the table atop the South Tower. Alisa is
standing up, staring at the forest. Chance reaches across the table for the letter while Jake
diligently takes notes. He opens it.
"If we follow the sequence correctly, it's your turn next, Commander."
Alisa walks away a little. "It would be..."
"Commander Mifurr hasn't recovered from her wounds yet." Jake says, pausing his note
taking. "I'll take her place."
Chance smiles a little and folds his arms. "You're no match for Feral, Jake. I'll go. This
time, I will crush him for sure."
"What makes you think you would beat him this time? I'll go."
"You will not!"
"Now, now, you two. Settle down." Alisa laughs. "There is yet another Duelist."
Jake clicks his pen.
"But, that's impossible!" Jake exclaims.
"World's End has selected someone besides us to fight for the Rose Bride?" Chance
asks. "You're telling me there is someone else that deserves to be a Duelist?"
Alisa smiles at him. "Yes."
*****************************************************************
A slap is heard, coming from the greenhouse.
Feral reals, partially because he didn't expect it, and partially because of the gall that she-
kat had.
"The hell... Are you looking for a suspension, Lieutenant?" Feral clenches his paws.
"It's your fault my sister got hurt! It's all your fault!" Kei shouts at Feral. "Why did my
sister have to get hurt over someone like you?"
"I didn't ask her to do anything!"
"Don't give me that! Your words won't heal my sister's wounds!"
"Kei! Kei!"
Kei turns to see Alisa enter the greenhouse, with Callie behind her. "Onee-sama..."
"This wound is fine." Alisa says, walking over to Feral. "I was glad to help."
"You'd better put a leash on her, Alisa." Feral crosses his arms. "Striking an officer,
especially a higher-ranking one, is grounds for suspension."
"I don't care! I will not forgive you for this! Ever!"
Kei storms out of the greenhouse, and Callie barely has time to get out the way.
"It's nothing to worry about, Ulysses." Alisa smiles at him. "Kei's just upset, that's all.
She'll calm down."
"I hope so."
******************************************************************
Later that night...
Ulysses picks over his food in the dining room, his Commander persona having vanished.
His cheek still stings.
"I should have expected something from Steele." Feral says aloud, mostly to himself.
"I'll never be a Knight this way..."
The dining room doors open, and Callie walks in carrying a box. She places it on the
table. "What's wrong Uly-sama? You seem depressed."
"I'm wondering...if I'll ever be a Knight..."
Callie's eyes widen for a second, but returns to normal. "Why do you say that?"
"I should have known Steele would try something." Feral sighs.
"You didn't do anything wrong, Uly-sama."
"And now, Alisa got hurt, too..."
"I wonder if everything's okay?"
"I hope so." Feral looks at her. "Think I should do a courtesy call?"
Callie brightens a bit. "Oh, I wonder if you're hungry?"
"Thanks, but I don't feel like ice milk right now..."
Callie opens the box, and pulls out a gecko. "Tii-tii."
"What should I name it?"
"Aww... Wait a minute, you were talking about the gecko, right?" Feral sighs. "Oh
brother..."
"Um, Uly-sama..."
"Hmm?"
"There are plenty of roses in bloom right now. Why don't you give some to Mifurr-san? "
Callie says. "You are going to visit her, right?"
"Callie..."
"After all, she-kats like getting roses." Callie smiles at him.
"Callie... Thanks."
**************************************************************
Later still...
Kei sits in her room, looking out of the window at the moon.
"Onee-sama is always so nice to me... Always shielding me." Kei sighs, drawing her
knees to her chest. "Her smiling face was all mine, but..."
A flash of movement from the gardens catches Kei's attention, who gets up to get a
better look. She spots Alisa practicing with her sword. Kei takes off.
***************************************************************
"Don't Onee-sama! You'll aggravate your wound!"
"Hmm?" Alisa looks up to Kei running toward her. "Oh, Kei... I'll be all right. If I don't
practice, I'll get out of shape."
"Please stop!" Kei grabs Alisa's arm.
"Hey, you don't have to go that far..."
"Please stop..." Kei, eyes tearing, continues to clutch Alisa's arm. "If something
happened to you, I'd..."
"Nothing will happen to me." Alisa wipes Kei's tears away. "Okay?"
Kei releases Alisa's arm. "Why do you like him so much?"
"Huh?"
"Feral! Why is he so important to you? All he does is hang around that mousy Calico
Briggs!"
Alisa smiles. "Well... He reminds me of a kat I saw."
"Saw?"
"When I was little, I had to pay my respects to a family friend who had died. I didn't
want to, so I snuck off." Alisa smiles. "Suddenly the rain came up, and I had to take shelter in a
church. There, I saw him."
Kei blinks. "Him?"
"Yes, him... My Knight." Alisa looks dreamy. "A kat who comforted a kitten when she
was all alone, without anyone to prompt him."
Kei just looks at her sister, who smiles.
"Ulysses reminds me of that kat... And, I want him to my Knight..." Alisa begins to walk
toward their house.
"...Not Calico's."
******************************************************************
The next day...
"Huh? Alisa's not here?"
"No, she didn't come in today..."
"I see."
Feral and Callie stand outside Alisa's office, where an assistant comes to talk to them.
"But, I guess you can see her at the party." The assistant says.
Feral looks at her. "Party?"
"Yes. It's in her honor, at the President's House. I suppose she would have to show up
there."
******************************************************************
At the President's House...
"Happy Birthday, Commander!"
"This is from the both of us."
"Thank you!"
Feral takes a surprised look around, him holding the roses while Callie holds her box. "I
see... It's a birthday party."
"Didn't you know?" Callie asks.
Feral looks at her. "You knew?"
"Yes."
Meanwhile, Chance stands besides Alisa's chair as Alisa receives some gifts.
"Come on, you can tell me." Chance says as Alisa pauses. "Just who is this new
Duelist?"
"Now, Chance..." Alisa smiles at him. "This is my birthday party. Why ruin an enjoyable
evening with talk about World's End?"
"But, the Duel is set for tomorrow night!"
"Don't worry. The stage is already set."
Chance throws up his paws. "Fine then."
Alisa watches as Chance joins Jake, but then notices Feral and Callie walking toward
her. "Hello. I'm glad you came." She then spies the roses in Feral's paws. "What's that?"
"Don't get me wrong, Alisa." Feral says. "This is a 'get well' visit. Thanks for the other
day."
"Oh, really?" Alisa laughs.
"What's so funny?"
"You making an excuse like that to see me. Just I figured."
Feral narrows his eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing. I'm glad you came."
"Such a shameful kat!"
"Huh?"
Clicking of heels are heard when Kei places herself between Alisa and Feral and knocks
the roses from Feral's paws. "Are you trying to seduce my sister with these?"
"The hell are you talking about?" Feral almost growls at her. "I've just about had enough
of you!"
"Kei, stop this!" Alisa pleads.
"No, you stop it!" Kei clenches her paws. "He's the one that hurt you!"
"I did no such--"
"Please don't be angry with Uly-sama!" Callie steps in front of Feral. "It was all Steele-
san's fault!"
"Shut up!" Kei slaps Callie who falls to the ground, still holding the box. "You're the
cause of all of this!"
"Tii-tii." A sound is heard from the box. Kei freezes for a moment.
Feral goes to Callie's aid. "Stop it! What do think you're doing?"
"I won't let you have her!"
"What?"
Kei's blue eyes flash with determination. "I won't let someone like you have my onee-
sama!"
The crowd at the birthday immediately starts buzzing, while Alisa secretly smiles. Kei
storms off.
"Is that true? Feral and Mifurr as a couple?"
"I just can't see it..."
Feral takes a minute to compose himself, and then helps Callie up. "Look, no offense, but
I'm not interested."
Alisa breaks composure for a second. "Oh?"
Feral looks at Callie. "Besides, I'm kinda attached right now."
Callie blinks. "Uly-sama..."
"And, since it seems obvious we're not welcome, we'll leave."
"No!" Alisa stands up. "Please, you two, join me in the garden."
Feral looks at her, but then proceeds outside with Callie. Alisa breathes a sigh of relief
and follows them.
"*That worked well... Almost too well...*"
************************************************************
"I suppose it's my fault...I spoiled her so."
"I guess when you're the World's Greatest Sister, no one else can compete."
Alisa laughs a little as she, Callie, and Feral sit around a table in the garden. "I suppose it
started at my birthday party when I was little. Kei didn't have a present, so she went and found a
gecko."
"A gecko?" Feral asks.
"It disappeared soon after, but I remember it was that present that made me the
happiest."
"Oh! I almost forgot!" Callie produces the box. "Happy birthday!"
"Tii-tii."
Alisa looks into the box. "A gecko!"
Callie looks at her. "You don't like it?"
"No, I love it. A wonderful gift."
**********************************************************
"Onee-sama, can you help me pick some grapes?"
"Okay. In a minute."
"But, I can't reach them! Please onee-sama?"
"Just hold on a minute! I'm playing with my gecko...Ouch!"
"Stop that!"
"Quit it! It was an accident!"
"Go away, Kei!"
**************************************************************
"It's all your fault, because you came between my sister and me! She's mine and mine
alone!"
Kei tosses a lavender colored rose in front of Feral. He stands up while Jake and Chance
appear.
"Stop it, Kei!" Jake says to her. "Do you even know what you're doing?"
"Don't try to escape me, Commander." Kei looks determined.
Chance shakes his head. "If you continue to do this, you'll be expelled like Steele."
Kei looks determined. "I don't care."
Alisa smiles at her. "The Academy has its rules. Kei, give me your left paw."
Everyone gasps as Alisa slips a Rose Signet onto Kei's claw.
Kei stares at it. "Onee-sama..."
"Have you forgotten, Kei? The Rose Signet is the one thing that allows you to enter the
world of the Duels" Alisa says. "Now, show me your power, as one chosen by World's End."
Jake clicks his pen.
"So, she's also a Duelist?" He asks.
Alisa then turns to Feral. "Tomorrow night, in the Arena, you will fight this next Duel,
Ulysses."
Feral looks back at her. "Then I await her challenge."
*******************************************************************
The next night...
Feral finds himself in the Arena, flanked by Callie. Kei is there in uniform similar to her
sisters, except that its color is lavender and it has a shorter skirt. She has with her a long, curved
sword. Alisa is there as well.
Callie goes to Kei and pins a lavender rose on her, and then returns to Feral to pin a white
and black rose on him.
"Do we really have to do this?" Feral sighs.
"You two get on my nerves! You're always hanging around my sister." Kei says, gripping
her sword.
Feral looks over to Alisa, who says nothing.
"This fight is for real!"
"So it is." Feral sighs again. "Let's go."
"O Rose of the noble castle..." Callie closes her eyes. A sphere of light appears in front of
her chest.
"Spirit of Dios that slumbers within..." Callie continues to chant, the sphere of light
growing bigger.
"Harken unto thy Master, and reveal to us now..."
Callie falls backwards, where Feral catches her. Within the sphere of light an elaborate
hilt of a sword appears. Feral grabs it and begins to extract the sword.
"...the power to Revolutionize the world!"
The clock tower's bells begin to ring, signaling the start of the Duel. Kei brings her sword
close to her body, and then charges at Feral. He quickly ducks out of the way.
"She fast..." Feral says through gritted teeth.
"Don't underestimate me!"
Kei charges again, slashing at Feral. He parries her attacks until they lock their swords
together, facing face to face.
"For the past ten years, I have observed my sister's techniques. I know everything about
her, including her fighting style." Kei glares at Feral. "Her fighting style is my fighting style."
"My Queen gave me this ring, and she will lead me to victory!"
"I think not!"
Feral's ring begins to glow, and a light comes down from the castle.
"I can't see!" Kei steps back for a moment.
Feral knocks the sword out of Kei's paws, and it flies upwards. A second later his slices
at her rose.
Lavender petals fill the air, and the clock tower's bells begin to ring. Kei's sword lands
besides her, digging into the Arena's floor.
"The fight is over." Feral says after a while.
"The fight has only begun!"
"Huh?"
Feral turns around to see Kei reaching into her uniform and extracting a small dagger.
She lunges at him, but he could only move so much. The dagger tears into Feral's right arm. He
staggers backwards, clutching his arm. Blood oozes from the wound. Callie gasps.
"Stop it, Kei-san!" Callie says. "The rules say you lose when the rose is cut from your
chest!"
"I don't care!"
Kei retrieves her sword and charges at Feral with it and the dagger. Feral dodges as best
he could by transferring his sword to his good arm. Kei is relentless.
"Stop it, Kei! This fight is meaningless!" Feral yells at her, but it was no good. He finds
himself pinned against a pillar. He prepares himself and Kei goes for another attack.
"That's enough!" Alisa shouts.
********************************************************************
"Tii-tii."
The muffled voice of a gecko is heard in a cardboard box, all taped up.
A kitten Kei is at a reservoir, looking down into the raging water. She pushes the box into
the water.
She watches as the box float down the reservoir, until it reaches a waterfall type device.
The box comes open.
**********************************************************************
"I'm sorry! Onee-sama, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to!" Kei cries in Alisa arms. Callie
tends to Feral, who had slid down the pillar to the ground.
"Uly-sama! Please talk to me!" Callie gingerly touches Feral's arm.
"...It hurts..." Feral says after a moment.
"I'm sorry about that, Ulysses. I'll go call for a doctor." Alisa says. "You should try
leaving the Arena."
As Callie helps Feral up, Alisa leaves with Kei. Alisa secretly smiles.
"*It's all going according to plan!*"
"*The Power of Dios...and Ulysses himself...will be mine!*"
To be continued...