Wow...it's been FOREVER since I last updated this story, no? Well, lucky for you I managed to find the draft I had. It only took about two years. So, here's another chapter for you. I will try and get the rest of it up soon. I PROMISE.

"Vahn, you must wait," spoke the Elder.

"Wait for what? Wait for the Seru to come back and kill someone else dear to me? I think not. I've had enough of death to last me for the rest of my days. I will wait for nothing. I'm going now." Vahn began to turn the doorknob when the Elder spoke up.

"You can not leave. It is too dangerous for you to do this alone." Vahn released the doorknob and whipped around. Maintaining his composure, he managed to speak in a soft tone.

"Elder, your wisdom means volumes to me, but I must do this. I must do this task, for both myself, and my family, both lost to me and not. Otherwise, I am just letting Zeto win. I'm showing him that he can take anything he wants, and no one will stand in his way. I can't let him have his way, no, not anymore." A single tear drifted down his cheek as he spoke.

"Vahn, I know your loss has been great; it has been greater than that of most who have lived here. However, the Seru are extremely powerful, and to go alone would mean almost certain death. Imagine for one moment if you died, how this town would be affected. How Mei would be affected."

"Mei..." Vahn spoke in a soft tone. "She would be heartbroken, especially since we need each other more than ever now." He sat down, fingering the pendant she had given him so long ago. "She means the world to me, and I mean the world to her." He glanced up at the Elder with a sad smile on his face. "We are planning to marry, you know? I asked her not long after Nene was put to rest. She's been so alone since her father was killed, and I pray each night that our love and the future that lies before us will be enough to finally end her sorrow. And now mine as well, I guess." The Elder slowly came up behind him and placed a comforting hand on Vahn's shoulder.

"Let us both pray that it indeed shall end your sorrow."

"However," added Vahn. "In order for us to even have a future, I must vanquish Zeto once and for all. For, if he is allowed to continue his reign of terror, especially now that he is in possession of the crystal, no one will have a happy future. Not even Mei and I. We will be forced to live in the confines of his power as slaves, or perhaps even reduced to nothing more than unmarked graves, symbols uncharacteristic of the joyful lives we had once known. I can't let that happen. I must do something."

"Very well. I see now that there is nothing I can say that will budge your mind from it's steadfast position. However, I must ask that you at least seek help from Gaia and Noa. They will be able to help you with this task, and perhaps even ease the mind of an old man like myself. Promise me you will do this?"

"I promise," replied Vahn. "Now, I must leave. There are a lot of things I have to think about, and I must be alone." He stood up, opened the door, and walked down the path towards the center of town. Passing by his house, now deathly quiet, Vahn walked to the edge of the city where the ocean tide traveled up the beach. Above it was a rock ledge, which Vahn climbed up with no trouble. Gazing out over the sea, memories of his father came flooding back to him, and tears slowly cascaded down his cheeks for what seemed the millionth time that day.

"Vahn?" Mei's kind voice spoke up behind him, almost inaudible. He slowly turned his head, and smiled slightly.

"Hi Mei."

"You look like you've been crying. Are you all right?"

"Oh Mei," he replied as he stood up and took her hands in his. "I care for you so much, and......I don't know what I'd do if I lost you. You mean the world to me, and you always have."

"Vahn, I know you're upset about your family. But know that I will always be here for you, like you are always there for me. For you also mean the world to me, and if I lost you, I would never forgive myself."

"Then you'd understand if I decided to go after Zeto and the Seru?" At this, Mei turned and looked him straight in the eye.

"Vahn....please don't tell me you're planning to go after them. You are, aren't you?! You're just going to....to....leave me like that? What if you never come back?!?"

"Mei, I have to. If I don't, Zeto and the Seru will forever be in control. I'm not going to be one of their pawns. I'm going."

"NO!!! You can't leave!! I need you here..." Tears streamed down her cheeks as she spoke. "You mean too much to me, Vahn. I don't want to have to stand on that beach and watch as your coffin is sent into the sea." She fell to her knees and sobbed, even while Vahn placed his arms around her.

"Mei...I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. But it's my destiny to go; my destiny to save our world." She looked up with a sad smile.

"Just come back to me Vahn. Don't let me be alone again. Promise you'll come back." He gently kissed her, picking her up.

"I promise."