Howdy again! This is SnakeBlade once again, writing some more. Ah, I finally researched the issue about my sister, and it seems to be called a "Night Terror". If you may want to know about this, you can visit the link and check it out yourself. Recently, I've been going around, working with authors and usually complimenting them on their works (most that I have read are pretty good).

Well… I'm going to continue writing, and that's that! And I swear by all that is holy… the next person who sends me another e-mail about "Happy Reading" being a holiday is going to get whomped! I needed a reason for Hyaire to go to Mt. Tora besides the water, so I reluctantly chose this. Don't be mad *dodges a couple tomatoes* for the idea… I also had to introduce the others into the story.

Please give me a couple more reviews! I might actually write a Senshi or Pokemon fic… Shudders, thinks, and then decides on a FF Crystal Chronicles fic first if he'll actually finish the game before graduation). Oh, and this is Chapter 3, Crossroads in a Small World.

"Baneblaze Hero!" the red headed girl yelled. She has twisted her body and swung her falchion, arching into the air (similar to a Shoryuken) and striking the green colored slime ball. The slime had burned into eventual evaporation, but it did not stop the girl's resolve to continue fighting.

'I thought I wasn't strong enough to fight these things! I knew I had power, but this! This is amazing. So the old man was correct about trying the new attack. I thought that he wouldn't teach me anything. But I don't get it. He was pretty old and senile… I'm going to continue blasting these things.' She young girl thought. 'So, Julian wasn't lying to me, after four years of pain, I finally got what I wanted.

Soon after, four more slime had the young girl surrounded. Even for a girl of her caliber, she could not handle all of this by herself.

"Kaeli!" a male voice yelled. She froze where she was and looked up. A human jumped from the sky and landed next to her. He was wearing a long-sleeved emerald gi and wearing a gray, double-edged pole on his back.

"Lunar Cli!" Kaeli responded. "I'm so happy to see you!"

"I see you're out of your league once again, my Karina." He said. His raised his arms and rolled down both of his sleeves. "If you want to get better, you have to learn how to be persuasive on your feet, and be able to respond without knowing what's going on." (Author's note: The name/word Karina is Garnithian for "little child" and "beautiful angel", depending on where the word is placed.)

"Right." She spoke, "Lunar Cli? Are you going to fight them by yourself?"

He removed his pole and took his stance. With no hesitation, Lunar Cli ran at the clime behind him, as it lunged in its attack. Easily dodging the attack, Lunar Cli twirled his pole and stabbed the slime in the backside.

'He moves so fast… he's so amazing. How much training under that old man did he endure? And what is that pole? Is it a sword?'

Lunar Cli kicked the slime, punched it twice, then jumped up and kicked the slime with so much force that it flew through the forest through several nearby trees. He stared at the other two slime and they moved away. He returned his pole back to it's position on his back.

"It seems that I have no more adversaries." Lunar Cli smiled and turned to Kaeli, "Karina, I need your help."

Kaeli became upset and stared at Lunar Cli angrily. "What does Karina mean?"

"It means more or less, 'little child'," he answered. "Or, it could mean beautiful angel. It's an odd term, I know… a beautiful name nonetheless." He walked over to her and smiled. "Kaeli, I'm a little worried about you. Kaimon Hiro told me you've been ditching class lately."

"I'm sorry, big brother… I really am! Kaimon Hiro does like me very much because I'm a girl. You know that." She sniffed and looked at her brother with teary eyes.

"It does not matter what sex you are, Kaeli. If you have the skill and talent, which I KNOW you do, what would you be complaining about?" Lunar Cli's eyes were

"It's still unfair! He won't let me use the toys like you." Kaeli whined.

"Kaeli, it's because I don't want you using them just yet, sweetie."

"I don't get it! Now you're against me too?" she yelled and began to cry. "You're so mean to me! Why are you doing this to me?"

"No, I'm not being mean, Kaeli." he pulled her close, stopping her protest. "Kaeli, you have so much going for you, little one. As you may already know, Kaimon Hiro doesn't know of your special abilities like I do. When you can control those abilities of yours… I'll grant your permission to use them."

"But still… Lunar Cli…"

"No buts. You'll be at practice tonight. I'll be there myself. I'll tell you what you need to know." He responded.

"Lunar Cli, why don't we both ditch class?" she asked. "I need your help, too."

"Oh yes, me…skipping class. Yeah, that makes sense." He chuckled. "Karina, there is no need to go back into the village. They're afraid of you. Why are you terrorizing them?" his sea green eyes were fixated on Kaeli's pool blue. "Stop this, Kaeli. I want to walk into a village near Mount Tora without having to apologize for your actions." He let Kaeli go and she stumbled back, torn by his words.

"I… I'm sorry." She answered. "It was my fault that I did that. I felt that if I could make myself look cool like you, I wouldn't have to be picked on because of my body."

"Kaeli… there is a friend of mine I'd like for you to meet. Her name is June Mihao. She's a little naïve, but she has a good insight and a great idea of how to help you. As for your body…" he stopped and realized that Kaeli's blue eyes had turned purple.

"Say another word…" she threatened.

"Yeah… I'm gone." Lunar Cli walked away and continued laughing as he did such.

'I can't believe him! He tried to hit on me! He's my brother! He's been my only family since my parents died… he's been there for me, no matter what.'

Kaeli… I froze. 'What the hell was that? I'm hearing voices. I know that when you work yourself too hard, you can easily start hearing stuff. I'm just gonna lay down in the grass.' Kaeli fell to the ground, exhausted from mental anguish.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Where am I? What hit me? I can't open my eyes… My body aches. My head is throbbing…

These words echoed through the mind of one June Mihao as she tried to regain her composure. She was bound and gagged (sorry for doing this, my niece! L - guilty conscience…I'm not held responsible for the actions tat may take place.) to a nearby table.

"It seems to fit you, Miss Mihao. I thought you would've woke up by now." A male voice said. June looked up and stared at the man. She had never seen someone who dressed like this male. He was quite tall, about 6 feet 5, muscular build, and short, with black hair. "I'm glad you're willing to cooperate with us. I'll remove the bind from you." He walked over to her and let it go, which resulted in a stream of vulgarities.

"Why did you hit me over the head?" June asked softly. Her body still screamed with pain. Her vision was still blurry and her long sleeved green shirt was a little stained with blood. She held one hand on her head, where the object hit her.

"I am Kaimon Hiro, leader of the Jin-Kai Team. You will refer to me as Lord Hiro. I am here to change you, to change you into a model soldier. You training will begin tomorrow, as your body is paralyzed due to the power of our medicine."

"Why did you take me?" she asked. "I don't have any specific qualities. I don't have any special powers."

"But you do know how to communicate with animals." June froze in place and put her head down. "I guess I was right. You're young, so you don't understand my ideas. I'm trying to create a world, in which all can be relaxed, and no one can fight."

"I don't want any part in you plan."

"Yes you do."

"No I don't-" June stopped as Hiro slapped her, leaving a print on her cheek.

"Yes you do." June submittedly nodded. "Good girl. I'll make sure you're well taken care of." Hiro left, leaving a broken-spirited 15 year old to her thoughts. Her eyes suddenly became heavier by the moment.

'Someone help me. Please? Uncle Hyaire? Auntie Lunette? I really need some help! I'm too tired…' June closed her eyes and went back to sleep.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Hmm… I thought that Kaeli would be here by now," Said an impatient Kaimon Hiro. "This is perfect. I have Lunar Cli's sister, Hyaire's niece, and now… I have to get the strongest man alive to make the perfect team. When they're done training under my tutelage… I'll make sure they can stop any force in the world! Aaaahhh… now, all I have to do is break their will. Mihao's a work of art; she'll be a couple of weeks. Kaeli… I'll have her own brother do the job for me."

Unbeknownst to him, the said Lunar Cli was barely standing outside the door, unnoticed to Hiro's eyes. 'I can't believe him! I have to help them both. First, I'll get June out of here. Then, I'll snatch Kaeli and we'll have to get to Mount Tora. I think someone's going to help us. I'll have to get June to Hyaire immediately. And get them to leave Coru ASAP.'

Then, with his own agenda, Lunar Cli walked away, heading toward the room where the Kaeli and the Kaimon would be practicing and sat. Several moments later, Kaeli slowly walked in. Her outfit consisted of a red and white striped gi, white shoes, and the insignia of the Kaimon- a gold letter "K", embroidered by a black diamond.

"Welcome, Kaeli." Lunar Cli said, smiling. "Kaimon Hiro will be with you shortly." When he finished his sentence, Hiro walked in and along with him, he had an silver haired girl by his side, hands tied and her body bruised. She tried to walk, and dropped immediately to the ground, face first. Lunar Cli caught her as she fell. He held her close and laid her down on the ground softly.

"Oh my goodness! Is she okay?" Kaeli asked.

"A few bruises and a lump on her head." Hiro answered. "Hmmm… she's also received a few blows to her body and one to the back of her head. She has such a beautiful color of hair, too."

"Hiro, what happened to her?" Lunar Cli barked. "Don't seem like she was in a fight with the cuts and bruises she received."

"She and her mother were attacked by thieves while I was in town, I helped her out, but her mother was killed on the spot." He answered coolly. Lunar Cli flinched.

"What do we do with her?" Kaeli spoke, "Can she stay with us?"

"We should let her decide what happens." Lunar Cli answered. 'But I definitely know what's going to happen.' He growled softly. 'He'll brainwash poor June and she'll be utterly defenseless when he does it. I can't let anything happen to my friend's niece. Hyaire and Lunette saved my life one too many times. I owe this to them. If I can't get June and Kaeli out of here, I can at least inform them of where the girls are.'

"Lunar Cli, why don't you train her?" Hiro asked, "you're the most competent of our people, and I think she'll be a great addition to our team. She has an agile build like your sister and a good body. Maybe some subterfuge would work for her when she's a couple years older." Lunar Cli cringed at the thought. "You okay?"

Several moments passed and then Hiro left the room. 'I trust Lunar Cli with most of my information. He's stronger than I, but I won't let him know that. If he keeps training, he'll become invincible, and then I'll pass the leadership to him. If I am to die, I'd better have a child. And with girls like June and Kaeli… they'll be really strong. My strength and their special abilities… I'll have an invincible army!' He chuckled to himself as he continued to his room. 'I'd better get some rest. It was one heck of a hike to get the girl. I'd better inform Lunar Cli tomorrow about her uncle whom has already made it up some of the mountain.'

And unfortunately… that's the end of Chapter 3. I know, I could've gone on about the issue, but as you see…with June's kidnapping, I couldn't find a way to introduce the others. So, I used a practical, yet interesting way to work them in. I know that I didn't take Hyaire's POV because…. Aww forget it! Wait until next chapter! Well…. R&R! Have fun and Happy Reading!

"Only those who are willing to enjoy the blessings they have will embrace their gifts with joy."- Anonymous

SnakeBlade….out.