Sorry for the long delay in the chapter, but I had exams and stuff on. Hope the chapter itself makes up for it. If not, here. *hands out chocolates* Enjoy.

Chapter Five

Kai growled yet again, staring out at the endless fields of grey and brown. He looked back over his shoulder, droplets of water sliding from the fabric of his hood, and noticed that the others were still a fair way back.

"Hurry, the rain will not abate for long. We must get to the next town before sunset." Without waiting for a reply, Kai set off again at his hard steady pace, much to the chagrin of his companions.

Tyson grumbled at the rear about having to follow the tribal man through ankle deep mud, planning ways to somehow ditch him. Kenny and Max were walking together close to Tyson, looking over at him with a slight fear and nervousness. The swordsman did not sound very happy to be travelling with them like this.

Rei was the only one who hadn't yet complained. He was keeping a fairly hard pace, but not a hard as Kai. He looked calm to the others, but inside he was seething.

Who in the Hells does he think he is? What is going on? By the Powers, I can't take much more of this rain!

"All right, I'm seriously sick of this!" Everyone turned to Rei curiously, except for Kai.

"Hey Rei?" Rei turned to see Max smiling brightly at him. "Want to see something interesting?"

"Sure," Rei muttered. His eyes widened though when he saw Max's hands glow slightly. His eyes closed, Max placed his hands on Rei, swaying slightly. Rei felt a slight tingle go through him. Max swayed again, but was caught by Tyson.

"What did he do?" Rei asked Kenny.

"A barrier spell. Max has talents with water. He could have been a water mage, had his father allowed him to train properly. Basically what that spell does is keep water from touching you."

Rei's eyes widened. He looked back at Max, who was smiling. "Thank you, you didn't have to do that."

"I know how much neko-jin's hate water," Max whispered. "It's the least I could do for a friend."

Rei smiled gratefully at him. "Thank you still, but you're worn."

"Don't worry, I get stronger each time I recover from a spell. It's a cool regenerative thing that mages have."

Rei nodded and helped Tyson carry Max. "Does that include Kai?"

The four of them turned their attention to the man ahead of them. Kenny frowned. "I think so. It looks like Kai is an inborn fire mage. I haven't seen too many elemental mages. It's rare to find them. Most mages rarely have much power, and definitely not enough to rise to an elemental level."

"What about you?" Max asked slyly. "How rare is it to find a Spirit Master at your age?"

Kenny blushed slightly. "Yeah, I guess it is rare to have any gifts relating to spirit magery, much less most of them."

Tyson stared. "Spirit Mage? There hasn't been one of those for almost twenty years! My father always talked about his friend who was the last Spirit Mage for a long time."

"Must have been my father. It's inborn into families sometimes."

"Must have been." Tyson grinned. "Remind me to buy you a round of drinks when we reach the town." Max chuckled hearing this, recalling Tyson's comment from the gardens when they first met.

"Will you all hurry up?" Kai called irritably from far ahead. "We've almost reached the town. Stop chatting and get a move on."

"Yes oh my captain," Tyson saluted him with a sardonic grin. Everyone chuckled and hurried along to stall Kai's wrath and get to shelter as soon as possible.

~*~*~

"I've been here before," Rei said looking around.

"Really?" Tyson looked surprised. "I though you'd lived in Forshire for five years."

"I had, but on my way there I passed through here. And old friend of my family lives nearby. I visit him every so often. I left something with him a few years ago." Rei looked over at Kai. "Do you think I could go and get it?"

"Come with us to the inn first, then we'll join you." Kai looked around nervously. "I'd rather none of us went anywhere alone."

"A bit paranoid, isn't he?" Tyson muttered to Max, who giggled and blushed slightly. Kenny noticed this and smirked.

Rei sighed and followed Kai down the road to an inn.

Once they'd gotten settled in Rei led the others down a few streets to a darker part of town.

"Uh, Rei?" Tyson asked nervously.

"Keep an eye on your valuables," Rei hissed to everyone, scanning the streets cautiously.

"A little late for that precaution," Tyson muttered, eyeing a beggar suspiciously. Kenny and Max hung by Tyson very closely. Kai was the only one who walked unafraid and tall through the streets, though his air of danger kept most normal people away, not to mention seedier people.

"Rei, what sort of people do you socialise with?" Max asked curiously.

"My sort of people. Thieves, smugglers, murderers, whores. You did know I was a thief right?" Rei grinned as Max took a step back. He laughed. "Don't worry, I left that behind with my old life and home." Rei looked a bit sad, but cheered slightly as he spotted a familiar shop. "Here we are."

Kai looked at the shop curiously. There was a rather strange aura about it. He glared sharply and halted in his tracks. Kenny did also.

"You sense that?" the younger boy asked.

"Yes. It is familiar, yet not." Kai frowned. "It would be best if we stayed with the others though."

Kenny nodded and followed after Kai, frowning slightly in thought. What are you Kai?

The inside of the shop was dark and musty, it smelled of dried herbs, both incense and narcotics could also be sensed as well as opiates. There were curious statues, figurines, and other ritualistic odds and ends scattered everywhere. Glassware and bottles were littered upon the shelves along with scrolls of various kinds. Ancient and rusted weapons lay in prominent positions atop tables and stools. The whole shop was a curious mixture of seemingly useless junk, yet upon closer inspection, many things in the room were more than they appeared.

Kai stared in amazement at one sword hidden behind a large statue of a curled dragon. "It can't be," he breathed.

"It is indeed young Hiwatari. The Drigger blade."

Kai turned around, sword in hand, an awed expression on his face. An older man stood there, chubby and smiling jovially. A white moustache covered his lips, but the warmth he radiated could not be mistaken for anything else.

"The best way to hide something is to have it in plain sight, right Rei?"

Rei grinned and shook the old man's hand. "It is good to see you again. I see you've kept my blade."

"Indeed, though no one had every bothered to look behind there for it." The old man stared at Kai curiously. "You must have strong powers to have sensed it even inside that scabbard. I doubt even the young Spirit Mater has such power."

"I've been trained to recognise such items." Kai glanced over at Rei. "This is yours?"

Rei nodded, smiling slightly. "I had Mr. Dickinson look after it for me while I traveled for a bit. It wasn't safe to have it on my possession and he offered to hold it for me." Kai handed him the blade and Rei unsheathed the shining scimitar with a smile. "It is good to see you old friend."

"So you're the last," Kai whispered.

Everyone looked at him curiously, except Mr. Dickinson. "Indeed he is young Phoenix, though I had prayed that it would not be necessary to unsheathe that so soon."

"Destiny waits for no one. I'm surprised to see you here."

Everyone else was looking between the two curiously. Mr. Dickinson smiled at Kai. "You should not be, I sent you south."

"I had thought to meet you in Wrighton."

"Something came up. Getting to Wrighton will be your first challenge, and once there, you will face more. Come, I've just made some tea. Won't you all join me?" Tyson, Max and Kenny all grinned and nodded. Rei smiled and followed them, but Kai stared at him suspiciously before joining the others in the back room.

"Time for explanations, don't you think Kai?"

Kai glared slightly at the old man and nodded. "It is. We are all together now, as we should need to be to face the darkness."

"Darkness?" Tyson asked curiously.

Kai glared at him then sighed. "This concerns you much Kinomiya. Much of what I know is a result of one event of my childhood. This begins some time ago, back when I was a child studying the old lore ..."

~*~*~

"Grandfather, what does this word mean?"

An old steel haired man glared darkly at the child sitting before him. The blue-haired young boy shrunk away from the dark gaze. "Do you not have tutors to tell you such things?"

"But I wanted to see if you knew about the Powers. Do you know the story of the Phoenix?"

"I have no time to waste on such childish things." The older man got up, almost knocking his grandson away as he did so. The crimson-eyed boy gazed sadly at the floor as he passed, leaving him alone in the room. He sniffed miserably and looked down at the book, staring at it intently, trying to forget the feeling of sadness in his heart.

"Hello there little firebird." He looked up with a grin seeing two older boys enter the room. A fiery haired boy was grinning back at him. "Why so glum, little one."

The young boy pouted. "I'm not little Tala. I'm only seven years younger than you and Bryan."

"Ah, but seven years is a lot baby Phoenix. You don't realise how much time it really is," the lavender haired-boy replied with a small smile. "You look like you're studying hard. I don't recall that we were ever that studious at his age Tala."

The redhead shook his head. "No, but Kai's a curious one, aren't you."

Kai nodded. "Father told me it's important to know things so I can become a good leader." He smiled brightly. "Do you know what this word is Tala?"

Tala bent down and looked at the book Kai was holding up curiously. He frowned slightly. "I barely recognise the language. I can hardly make out any of these words."

Kai looked confused. "But I now most of these words. You're a lot older than me, shouldn't you know?"

Tala grinned sheepishly. "Just because I'm older doesn't make me necessarily smarter, or even wiser little one. You're the talent in the tribe. You're our prodigy, never forget that you're special."

Kai nodded but he still looked a bit disheartened. "I just wish I knew what this word was."

"Why don't you read the rest of the passage to us, maybe we might be able to figure it out together." Kai grinned at Bryan's suggestion and held the book up.

"'It is said that of the five Powers, the Phoenix was the most mysterious, more so than the Spirit. The legend states that the Phoenix can be reborn from fire and is impervious to most forms of attack. However, unlike popular belief, the fire god is not weakened by water or strengthened by air, its weakness and strength is found in Earth. They exist in a ...' That's the word I don't know. It is one I've never heard of it."

"What does it sound like?" Tala asked.

"It can translate as 'togetherness', but I don't think that sounds right. It isn't strong enough for the accents and pronunciation."

Tala looked stumped. "I always had trouble with languages. What about you Bryan?"

Bryan looked over at the book. "'Combined' maybe? Could that be it?"

Kai shook his head. "No, that doesn't sound right either." He thought for a moment and smiled. "I think I have it: 'Symbiotic'!"

Tala and Bryan stared at each other. "You actually know what that means?" Tala asked in amazement. "At your age? You really are a prodigy Kai." He smiled. "You're going to make us all proud one day. Hiwatari tribe will be renowned because of you."

Kai blushed. "I'm not that special. I still haven't mastered all of my magic techniques yet and I still have to learn how to use my sword without dropping it too far to the right and some of the languages I know I'm a bit unsure of pronunciation."

"He's making us look bad Tala," Bryan murmured with a smirk. "Should we do something to him?"

Tala grinned. "Definitely. I think this warrants punishment."

Kai shrunk back. "No, I have to study, I still haven't finished translating the passage!" He stopped talking then as he was pounced on by the two older boys and tickled. Kai started laughing loudly, and the two boys grinned seeing him squirm.

"What is this?"

The three of them stopped laughing and paled hearing the voice from the doorway. They turned and sat up straight. Tala and Bryan bowed their heads while Kai gulped and looked the violet haired man in the eyes.

"I apologise Master Boris, I was only playing."

"Playing? You are meant to be studying Kai!" Boris looked mad. He turned to the older boys. "And you two are too old to be indulging in such foolishness. Report to the armsmaster and finish your drills."

"Yes Master Boris," the two boys bowed to the floor and got up, leaving the two in the room alone. Kai gulped slightly being left alone with Boris. The man had a fearful temper on good days, and this looked like a bad one to him. Kai hated the bad days.

"Repeat to me the passage you are to have read and translated. There had best not be any mistakes or you shall be punished."

Kai nodded and started to read the passage. He got to the part where he had trouble and halted slightly. "'They exist in a ... symbiotic relationship, much like Air and Water. Together all five form the very basis for all forms of magic, power and beliefs that govern the world.'"

Boris looked a little disappointed that Kai had managed to translate the passage and still have time to play. "Fine, you may go for now. Report back here tomorrow at your designated time." Kai nodded and placed the book back on the shelf where it came then left the room.

He sighed as he left and grinned, loving the freedom he had for now. He headed over to the practice yard to apologise to Tala and Bryan for getting them into trouble when he saw a familiar banner in residence alongside the Hiwatari banner by is parent's house. He grinned and headed over there.

"Mother? Father?" he called out as he entered the house.

"They are in meeting with the Kinomiyas young Kai," one of the servants answered. Kai smiled at him.

"Thank you. Did they ask not to be disturbed? I would like to give my greetings to the Kinomiyas."

The servant smiled. "No, they are still catching up. You may go. They are in the south chamber." Kai nodded and thanked the servant with a smile then headed off down there, hoping he would finally get to meet the sons he'd heard so much about.

Suddenly, he heard a scream and he stopped in his tracks, paling slightly. He ran to the south chamber in a panic, knowing that it was his mother's voice he heard. He slammed open the door and his eyes widened at the sight that greeted him.

His mother lay across the table, blood pooling underneath her, an angry and deep wound to her side revealing pale bloody skin. His father was still sitting in his chair, his eyes glassy and his mouth open in shock, a pained expression on his face. If not for the gaping wound and the longsword stuck through his body, Kai would have thought him still alive. On the floor lay the two Kinomiyas side by side, their throats slit.

Kai looked around and saw that there was another man, the servant still alive. The man, seeing the escape route, ran for it and rushed past Kai, who did not care. He ran to his mother, still hearing the man's cries of 'Treachery! and 'Tragedy!'

"Mother?" Kai asked, tears streaming down his face. He saw her fingers flicker slightly and he looked at her in hope. "Mother!"

"Kai," she breathed and brought her head around to look at him, blood dribbling from the side of her mouth onto the table. "Beware ... darkness."

"What?"

"Dark, the man ... lord to be. He claims he is ... of light and fire ... do not believe ... him."

Kai cried harder as she coughed up more blood and breathed haggardly. "Mother, please, don't leave me."

"The man," she continued, unheeding of his warnings, only concerned with keeping her son safe. "Close, but not blood ... he was the ..." She coughed again and her eyes closed. Her breathing grew strained and Kai stared at her in horror as she slowly faded, small bubbles of rd forming at the corner of her mouth until no air was released from her lungs.

"Mother?" Kai asked quietly, tears streaming down his face and smearing the blue marks on his face. "Mother!" He cried out and flung himself on top of her, his intense pain at the loss consuming him and making him hysterical. When others finally arrived, they found him sobbing still, though slowly fading to unconsciousness from the pain and exhaustion.

"Treachery!" Was the cry that went up. No one knew that there was more going on that a simple feud between allied clans.

~*~*~

Kai looked over at everyone. "That's what began it all. Everything that is starting to go wrong now has originated with the downfall of the Hiwatari tribe and he Kinomiya clan."

"Then you started whatever this is," Tyson spat.

Kai glared at him. "Your parents were the ones to begin the fight."

"You had mine slaughtered! Your orders were the ones which burned my home and created beggars of my brother and I!" Tyson had gotten up and was being held back from rushing at Kai by Rei and Max.

"I made no such order!" Kai yelled back at him.

"What?"

"I never ordered the burning of your home. My father had always taught me that retaliation is a form of weakness. Your leaders were dead, your clan was in turmoil, as was my tribe. I could not muster a retaliation, much less make one against such an open target. It would be dishonourable to do so to a former ally."

"Lair," Tyson spat. "I saw the banners of your tribe as they marched towards us, the fires as they burned the fields to the ground. You destroyed my clan!"

Kai turned away from him. "What would have been the point? Equal toll had been taken on both sides. Your parents for mine. Despite your treachery, there was no need or want to exact revenge."

"Our treachery, it was you who struck the first blow!"

"Did you not hear, there are none who saw the fight! For all we know, your parents were the ones to kill my father and mother."

"But why?" They two looked over at Rei, who looked puzzled. "There seems to be no reason."

"Exactly," Kai told them. "My mother's words haunted me. From then on I studied as much as I could of the dark lore and the old lore of the Powers. I wanted to find out exactly what had happened in that chamber when our tribe fell."

Tyson glared at him. "It is obvious what happened, you betrayed a loyal ally."

Kai glared at him. "For the last time, I and mine did not destroy your clan!"

"That is not altogether true Kai."

Kai whirled around to face Mr. Dickinson in shock. "What do you mean?"

"There is more to the story than you have told. You are unaware of the darker aspects. In fact, your tribe was betrayed itself from one of its own."

Kai shook his head. "No, impossible. Who would dare betray us?"

"One not of your clan, but brought into it."

Kai's eyes widened. "'Close, but not of blood.' Who was it?"

"The Dark Lord." Kai and the others all took a step back from the old man as he told them this.

"A myth," Max whispered, with wide eyes.

"Why would he seek the destruction of Kinomiya?" Kenny asked.

"Perhaps he knew something no one else did," Kai whispered, looking at Tyson. "He wanted you. Being part of my clan, he must have already had me under his control, but needed the others destroyed to work his plans. That's' why he's seeking them out now."

Everyone except Mr. Dickinson looked confused. "What are you going on about?" Tyson asked frustratedly.

"The Powers," Kai answered. He started pacing, thinking things through. "Something has happened to cause an imbalance of power in the heavens. The Dark Lord had taken human form and seeks to destroy the Powers through their human incarnations. He started with me, then moved to Tyson and went after Max and Kenny once he'd found them, but he mustn't know about Rei yet." He stopped walking around the room and looked up at Mr. Dickinson. "That's why you sent me here, to find them and keep them safe."

"Indeed," he nodded. "But there is more. You must destroy all footholds the Dark Lord has on the mortal realm. To do that, you must discover who he is and what else he is after."

"The blades," Kai murmured. "That must be it. These blades hold the power of the immortals. He sought the destruction of the Powers to get the blades. But who is he? One known to me?"

Mr. Dickinson shrugged his shoulders. "I know not. That is your task young Phoenix. You are together now, my work is done. The hard work is now left for you. I have the utmost faith in all of you." Mr. Dickinson smiled at them. "Make me proud." With that he walked out of the room into the back street connected to the shop.

"Wait," Tyson yelled, and ran after him looking out of the door. He turned back, his eyes wide. "He's gone."

"Of course he is," Kai snorted. "He's a master Shadow Mage."

Tyson looked back at him, but didn't have the strength to snap at Kai then. He just sat back down, his eyes still wide and looking very distressed. Max sat beside him with Kenny, who looked like he was pondering everything over.

"So let me get this straight," Rei said after a long silence. "We're supposed to be incarnations of the Powers trying to stop the incarnation of the Dark Lord who already has footholds here and is slowly converting people to his worship and is trying to kill us?" Kai nodded and Rei sat down. "We're doomed."

AN: Hope that cleared up a few things. But seriously, I loved the part with Tala, Kai and Bryan, I thought it was adorable. I just had to put something like that in there. Anyways, tell me what you thought and any questions you have.

Laters.