Rider: (staring down Kyo Korhal) You really don't want to do this. Star doesn't like to share. (Looks around) Ginryuu? Anytime you want to help out!

Star: (rounds the corner and sees Kyo threatening Rider with his staff) Get lost! I don't need your help to beat Rider!

Rider: (watches in surprise as Star take a running start and spinning back kicks Kyo into the next county) Whoa… (watches as Alriana flies off after Kyo)

Star: (cracks her knuckles) Now then.

Rider: Wait! Kill me now and you miss out on the surprise!

Star: (stops and smiles excitedly) Surprise? What is it?

Rider: (sighs in relief) Get Wraiths and Ginryuu while I answer mail. (turns to readers) Konbawa Minna-san! Many thanks for the reviews. And to KylaranAeldin, sorry the last chapter didn't agree with you. Hopefully this one will go better. As for the spelling of Yadrasil verses Yaggradsil, it depends on the source you use. I've seen it as both, just chose this one over the other for the story.

Star: (sitting astride Ginryuu, holding up an unconscious Wraiths) Ok, now what?

Rider: You'll see. (turns to readers) You guys go on ahead with the story. We'll catch up with you later.

(break)

In Search Of Her Place

Chapter Thirteen: Beginning Of The End

"I felt her!" Shinobu cried out as the others entered the clearing.

Ice pushed Shinobu behind him as three figures appeared in the misted clearing. He ground his teeth and his lip curled in anger. "Rogues."

"We're not rogues dork!"

Kaolla blinked and popped her head over Ice's shoulder. "I know that voice! That's Sarah!"

The first figure came out of the mist, revealing Sarah dressed in a simple, white, sun dress. "Hey dorks."

Kitsune wrinkled her nose. "You're not Sarah."

"She is, and she isn't." Replied a second voice.

Keitaro blinked at the familiar sound. "Aunt Haruka?" Something flashed out of the mist and swatted Keitaro over the head. "Ouch!"

"Just Haruka." The older woman stepped out of the mist. "Not one damn word." She glared at the others as she was forced to reveal her outfit, a one piece black evening gown.

Kanako raised an eyebrow. "Wow…"

Motoko stared in confusion. "What's with the out fit?"

Haruka sighed. "Part of the job unfortunately."

"Job? What job?" Lillith asked.

"Oh you know." Haruka sighed. "Manipulating destinies and such."

"Destinies?" Keitaro scratched his head. "I know you're into getting your way all the time, but I didn't realize that you had a megalomaniac complex. Ow!" Keitaro ducked as something hit him again.

"Holy shit…" Ice whispered. "You're beyond time." He stared in wonder at Haruka. "You are legend…" He looked around and his look of awe faded. "And you're one short."

Sarah shook her head. "No, the dork is just being shy." She turned and faced the mist. "Get out here already!"

Slowly, the third figure stepped forward. Her gray dress flowed out around her as did her brown hair as the wind kicked up. She smiled meekly. "Hi, guys." She turned to Keitaro and bowed slightly. "Sorry about how I got your attention with the branch and all."

Keitaro, along with the rest of the Hinata-sou family, stared as her. "Naru?" Keitaro ran forward to embrace her. His mad rush though had an unforeseeable ending. Keitaro tumbled across the ground as he passed through her ghostly form.

Naru smiled sadly. "I'm sorry Keitaro, I can't…"

Keitaro looked up at her, then turned to Ice, and back again. "What's going on?"

Kaolla walked up to Sarah and tried to touch the younger girl. Kaolla's hand also passed through her friend. "You really are…"

Kanako looked around in confusion. "Could someone explain this please?"

"They are the ones beyond time and space." Ice explained. "The beginning, middle, and end. The child, the maiden, the crone."

"Watch it with the crone talk." Haruka warned.

Kanako shook her head. "Still not getting it here."

"You know them as The Fates." Ice finally stated in plain terms.

Haruka, Naru, and Sarah all nodded to confirm his statement.

Keitaro hung his head sadly. "Then…"

"I'm sorry Keitaro, but I can't go back to Earth." Naru answered before the young man could finish his question. "Not now." She rested her hand against his drooping head even though she knew that he couldn't feel her. "Thank you for trying though."

Kanako twitched slightly as she saw Naru's actions.

"Anyway." Haruka interrupted. "Touching as this is, you guys have work to do."

Kanako nodded. "We have to restore Hinata City. And all the people that got hurt because of me."

"Yeah, about that." Sarah began.

Naru pulled away from Keitaro. "The damage from your Hellfire went far beyond that of Hinata City."

Kanako felt her heart sink into her stomach. "How far did it go?" She asked warily.

Ice turned away. "Is this really necessary? She has enough on her to do list as it is."

"She need's to know the full extant of her actions." Haruka replied as she turned toward Kanako. "Earth is dead Kanako."

Kanako faltered and sank to her knees. For a moment no one moved as they all mulled over what Haruka had said.

At last Keitaro rose and walked over to Kanako. He knelt down and placed his arms around her. "We'll fix it Kanako." He looked into her eyes as she turned. He hadn't seen her like this since she was a little girl, so scared and vulnerable. "We'll fix everything."

"How?" Kanako began to cry. "I…I…kami-sama…what am I?"

"You are Kanako Urashima." Haruka stepped forward. "And you must fix what you have done and quickly."

Ice nodded. "So lets get to the trunk, red-eye it to the home office, and fix this."

Naru shook her head. "That option is not available."

Lillith blinked. "Why not?"

"There isn't enough time." Naru continued. "You are to far out on the branches. Even you, Ice, would die before you made it even a quarter of the way to the trunk."

Kanako began to cry harder.

Keitaro looked up at Naru. "There's nothing we can do?"

Sarah made a frustrated growl. "I wish I could still kick you. Did she say there was nothing you could do? No! She said that option wasn't there!"

Kaolla blinked at the apparition of the small girl. "Whoa, chill out a little."

"Then how do we fix…" Keitaro stopped as Naru raised her hand. He watched as the mist in the valley began to blow away. In the before unseen expanse three large, red, Shinto shrine, gates appeared. "Wow…ow!" He fell to the ground as something walloped him to the head.

"Damn it! Knock it off!" Haruka ordered with an angry yell.

Keitaro stood and rubbed at the rising bruise on his forehead as well as the one on the back of his skull. "I didn't do anything!"

Haruka shook her head. "Not you, him, my attendant."

"Attendant?" Keitaro looked around. "I think your confused Haruka, there's no one here." He stopped again as a shadow darted out from next to Haruka's position toward him. It stopped at Keitaro's feet and extended up and took the form of a man before solidifying. Keitaro staggered back as the man suddenly appeared before him and grinned maliciously at him.

The new arrival stood a little taller than six feet and had a lanky build. His skin was pale, not to the point of being ghostly, but his black hair was such a stark contrast that it appeared that way. He was dressed entirely in black leather with the exceptions of his cotton shirt, and the various metal chains that hung from his pants and jacket. He smiled at Keitaro with an affect that could only be classified as playfully sadistic. He watched Keitaro sweat for a moment, then turned his steel-gray eyes on Kanako. "Why are you with this loser? You and me would go much better together."

Ice grabbed for his sword and lunged at the specter.

The man shifted to a shadow once again, and the blade passed through him without affect. Once clear of the metal, he solidified again and struck Ice with a left cross punch. He smiled as the others watched Ice hurtle across the valley and gasped.

Haruka threw her cigarette at the shadow man in annoyance. "Cut the crap!" She nodded as the he returned to her side, in shadow form, after avoiding the cigarette butt.

Ice groaned and stood with the assistance of another. "Thanks Kaolla."

The blonde princess blinked and waved at Ice from over across the field. "Uh, you're welcome, but I'm over here."

Ice blinked and turned to see his benefactor.

The young woman smiled. "Are you injured?"

Ice shook his head as he studied her. She was only about five foot five and built like a dancer, curved and graceful, but she lifted him up with little effort. Her skin was bronzed, but not her natural color. Rather, perhaps she had stayed on the beach too long while tanning. Her hair, although highlighted with streaks of red, blue, and purple, was primarily a sandy-blonde and was fixed into two, long, ponytails that hung down to her mid-back. She wore a pink, velvet, sweatshirt with matching pants. "Your size belies your strength." Ice commented.

The woman smiled and traced her finger over Ice's nose. "Bet you flatter all the girls with lines like that." She leaned in and studied his face. "You're cuter than most travelers I meet though, might be fun to get to know you better." She recoiled as a sword was hastily thrust between her and Ice.

Motoko glared at the woman in pink. "There will be no getting to know anyone here."

The woman narrowed her green eyes on the samurai as she floated through the air to her position next to Sarah.

Kanako looked around warily. "Who are these people?"

"They are our attendants." Naru replied. "We manipulate destinies, but can't touch the physical world, so we have attendants who assist us when the situation requires."

Kitsune nodded in understanding. "One to touch the spiritual, one for the material."

Shinobu shook her head. "But if that's true…"

"Then how'd you use the branch to hit me?" Keitaro watched Naru expectantly for her answer.

"That would be me." Measuring in at five eight with a stocky build, the third and final attendant walked out of the mist from behind Naru. His brown hair was cut very close, save for the small flip in the front and complimented his medium skin tone nicely. He was dressed in blue jeans and a simple brown shirt along with a casual black and tan leather jacket. His eyes were hidden behind a pair of reflective, blue, frosted, sun glasses. His face was expressionless, just as his voice had been a moment ago. He shifted slightly as silver claw appeared from behind and place itself on his shoulder. "I was the one who took you down."

Lillith felt her breath catch as she saw the small creature settle on the shoulder of Naru's attendant. "A dragon…I thought they were all extinct."

The man nodded. "Demons, Angels, and Humans alike all mistreated and exploited the Dragons. It was necessary for them to make everyone believe they were no more to prevent their actual extinction. Only a few ever even see them, let alone actually befriend them."

Ice landed back next to the group. "Yeah, not that this isn't all very exciting, but we got places to go and things to do."

"Shut up and listen." Naru's attendant ordered coolly.

Ice brandished his sword. "You really want to get hurt don't you?"

"Enough!" Haruka yelled loud enough that everyone gathered stopped and turned toward her. Haruka calmed down a moment and the continued. "Time is not your friend here, so we're going to show you something few people ever get to see."

Sarah ran over to one of the shrine gates and placed a hand on it. "These gates are entrances to the sacred path ways we travel to do our thing in the various realms. Normally, normal people, you guys, wouldn't get to travel on them."

Naru nodded. "However, there is precedent for it happening before, and we can open the gates to you now. But…"

Ice sighed. "Knew it was to good to be true…"

Keitaro glared at the angel before turning back to Naru. "But?"

"We can't just let you go freely." Naru finished sadly.

Kanako blinked. "I don't understand."

Sarah's attendant stepped forward. "The paths are physical realms."

The shadow attendant next to Haruka reverted to a human form. "That puts the paths under our jurisdiction."

Kitsune's eyes narrowed. "I don't like the sound of this."

"Me either." Lillith admitted.

"Nor should you." Naru's attendant confirmed. "If you wish to travel our grounds, you will have to face a test to see if you are worthy to reach your final destination."

Ice raised an eyebrow. "That's it? Get past you guys and we're home free?"

The wraith-like attendant grinned. "You won't even get past me, let alone all three of us."

Ice grinned back and pointed his sword at the man in leather. "You think you can take me? Bring it, anytime you want."

"There are three paths…" Kanako murmured to herself. "How do we know which path will take us where we want to go?" Her eyes darted to each of the Fates and the attendants.

Sarah came back to the group and smiled. "Each gate will take you to where you want to go, you just have to actually be able to get there."

"And the tests?" Keitaro looked around. "What kind of test does each path hold?"

"That will depend." Answered the attendant as he pet the dragon gently. "On the size and composition of your party, but you will not know until the test has begun."

Keitaro nodded in understanding, and lead the group away from Naru, Sarah, and Haruka. "Ok, guys. What do we do now?"

"Let's just pick a path and all go." Suggested Lillith. "We're losing time like this."

Kaolla shook her head. "That wouldn't be a wise choice."

"Why not?" Shinobu glanced nervously as the man in the glasses watched them. "I think we should stick together."

Kanako shook her head. "If we all go together…"

"We will have to face all three attendants." Motoko finished.

"So?" Ice demanded angrily.

Kitsune dropped a level stare on Ice. "The Goth-wannabe dropped you like a bad habit. Do you really want to take on all three of them?"

Ice remembered how strong the girl had been. "Guess not." He paused a moment to think. "Three groups then?"

Keitaro nodded. "Now, who goes with whom?"

"I'm going with you." Kanako took Keitaro's arm. "Only you."

Lillith shook her head emphatically. "No way, I'm not letting you out of my sight."

"She's made her decision." Keitaro firmly ended the discussion.

Lillith looked over at Ice in search of help. "Say something."

Ice studied Keitaro intently. "Are you sure?" He sighed as Keitaro nodded. "Ok, just don't die."

Lillith blinked at Ice completely dumbfounded. "Nani?!"

"My hands are tied." Ice sighed. "I'll go alone, it'll take one of the doormen off of the others. The rest of you all stay together."

"Who said you get to give the orders?" Motoko pounded Ice over the head. "You and I still need to talk since I know you're hiding something from me. I'm going with you to make sure we have this talk now."

Ice was about to protest when Keitaro cut him off. "It's decided then." Keitaro didn't care what Ice's problem was with Motoko right now. He just wanted to finish this so that Kanako could live peacefully back home. "Three groups, one attendant each." He smiled warmly. "I expect to see everyone back at the Hinata-sou when this is all done."

The others smiled back and nodded as they headed back to the judges.

"Are you ready?" Naru asked nervously.

Keitaro nodded.

Ice pointed his sword at Haruka's attendant. "You. I want your test so I can kick your ass."

"You don't get to pick." Sarah's attendant clarified. "We do." She paused and rubbed her temple a moment. She jumped up excitedly. "Oh yeah! Before we begin, we should introduce ourselves properly!" She smiled and waved. "I'm 'she who wields the fire of the stars'! But you can call me Starfire, or Star if you like!"

The man in all black cocked his head to one side. "I am 'he who walks with wraiths'. Wraiths will suffice."

Naru's attendant simply nodded in greeting. "I am 'he who is the rider of dragons'. Rider is fine."

Kitsune raised her hand. "Isn't your name kind of backwards." She pointed to the large, silver, lizard, on Rider's shoulders. "The dragon is riding on you it seems."

Rider did not react to Kitsune's tease. "Ginryuu is unique. Perhaps you will see why."

Kanako stopped as she saw Shinobu shudder. "What's wrong?"

Shinobu swallowed hard. "I don't want to be tested by Rider. He feels so strange, I can't explain it. I just don't want to have him test me."

Kaolla began to step toward the gate. "Don't worry, he's got bigger concerns than us."

Kitsune paused at the pathway threshold. "Why do you say that?"

Kaolla smiled playfully. "He's the leader of the attendants. He's not going to come after us small fries."

Keitaro took Kanako's hand. "We should get going."

Kanako nodded and together they went through the gate arch.

Ice nodded toward the gate as Keitaro and Kanako disappeared from view. "Keep an eye on them, but don't interfere unless they really need it."

Lillith nodded as well before crossing the portal that Shinobu, Kaolla, and Kitsune had already gone through. "That goes for you too." She turned to Ice after the two flashes of energy disappeared into Kanako's and Keitaro's gate. "Don't die in there."

Ice smiled. "You'll be the first to know if I do."

Lillith nodded and crossed the gate. Her words hung in the air as her body disappeared. "Guess I will."

Ice turned to Motoko, nodded, and then went through the barrier.

The three attendants stepped forward. Rider motioned Star and Wraiths to their assigned gates. "By the numbers people. You know what to do."

"I don't want them!" Wraiths protested.

Star shook her head and pouted. "I don't want that group!"

Rider raised an eyebrow for a moment, and then whistled. Two dragons dashed down from the void above and grabbed the quarreling attendants. "Tough luck guys." He nodded and the dragons picked up Wraiths and Star and forced them through the gates. Once the attendants were gone, the doorways also vanished.

"Rider?"

He turned toward Naru's questioning voice. "You've done all you can for them. It's in their hands now." He turned and began to enter his gate.

"Attendant." Haruka called and waited until Rider turned. "Don't underestimate them."

"I know what they can do." Rider smiled a small smile in anticipation and entered into the vanishing gate.

The three former tenants of the Hinata-sou turned toward each other.

"Think they have a chance?" Naru fumbled her hands nervously.

Sarah scratched her head. "Well…we've never had a group like this come though before, so anything's possible."

Haruka smiled and lit another cigarette. "They'll succeed."

Naru blinked. "How can you be so certain?"

"Can you remember the last time a group like this has come through?" The older woman asked.

"I just said that." Sarah pointed out with a huff. "Never."

Haruka shook her head. "Actually, there was once." She smiled a bit wider. "Demons, Angels, Humans, and Animal Spirits…all working together. That has not happened since before the fall of Shangri-la." She chuckled. "All because of my bone-head nephew and adopted niece."

Sarah nodded. "I guess they do have a shot."

Naru remained silent.

Haruka patted Naru on the shoulder. "Don't worry. Keitaro won't let us down, especially with Kanako with him."

Naru nodded. "It's not Keitaro I'm worried about really, not with who his father is. It's Kanako who worries me. I'm scared because of the half-ling daughter of Lady Lucifer."

(break)

"I'm sending my cleaning bill to Haruka." Kitsune complained as she waded through the swamp. She had changed to her fox-form as it allowed her to travel faster in the uneven terrain, but her coat was a mess as a result.

"I want a bath." Kaolla whined. "I can deal with grease and oil from my mechas, but mud, and sweat, and bugs I can't." She looked up at the faint rays of moonlight that passed through the thick canopy. She smiled. "A red moon!" She hummed a few notes and a small rain cloud appeared over her head. "Shower, shower, la la la."

"When did you get elemental magic?" Kitsune asked.

Kaolla laughed as she gently rubbed the water into her skin. "I told you. I studied on Yadrasil for a long time before." She paused and frown. "Never could find a spell to work against bugs though."

Lillith shook her head with a laugh as the rain began to fall on the blonde girl. "You always struck me as a tom-boy Kaolla. Never would have thought a few bugs would upset you."

Kaolla ran her hands through her wet hair. "Bugs don't upset me." She held out her arms for inspection. "Bug bites are itchy, and those upset me."

Shinobu stuck close to Kitsune as she possibly could. "Where did we land anyway?"

Lillith shook her head and shrugged her shoulders.

Kaolla shook her head. "I've never read anything about this place."

Kitsune sniffed the air. "There's a lot of magic here, but I don't smell any kind of predators, demon or otherwise."

"Not all demons are predators." Lillith replied with a hint of hurt in her voice. "And not all predators are demons. Right, tracker?"

Kitsune cringed slightly at the hidden barb in Lillith's words. "I suppose." She pushed on forward in silence. "We've been walking a long time now, just how long is this path?"

"The attendants work on the physical realm." Kaolla reasoned. "So, there must be an actual door somewhere that we can cross through."

Shinobu scratched her head. "That really doesn't answer the question though."

"In a way, it does." Lillith replied. "For all we know, we could have passed the door already."

Kitsune hung her head. "Please don't say things like that. It's too depressing to think about."

Shinobu turned toward Kitsune. "You can track things right? Why not just sniff the door out?"

Kitsune shook her head. "Doors don't give off a scent, plus I'd need something to match it against." She cocked her head. "But, you might be able to find the door."

Shinobu's eyes widened. "Me? How?"

"I get it." Lillith nodded. "Sarah said they used these paths too."

Kaolla brightened. "Which means there is a spiritual component to the doors as well!"

Kitsune nodded. "And Shinobu should be able to track that component."

Shinobu looked at the ground nervously. "But, I don't know how to do that…"

"I'll help you." Kitsune doubled back and sat in front of Shinobu. "Close your eyes and envision a door, any kind, and see light around it." Kitsune waited a moment as Shinobu complied. "Do you see anything?"

Shinobu nodded slightly and whispered her response. "I think so…" She stopped and her brow wrinkled in confusion. Suddenly her eyes popped open. "Get out of the way!" She tackled Kitsune to the ground as a long, sharp, black, shadow arched out from the cover of a tree at the fox and the girl.

Kitsune quickly hopped to her feet to try to see her attacker. All she saw was a shadow quickly retreating again, and the clump of her fur from her left most tail on the ground. She summoned fire and grit her teeth as she plunged the tail stump into the flame. After a moment she pulled the cauterized wound out again. "That'll stop the bleeding. What was that?"

Lillith shifted to her fully transformed demon state. "Our professor just arrived."

"Huh?" Kitsune looked around confused. She reacted to late as another shadow headed for her.

Kaolla sang out, and her magic heeded her call. The storm cloud over her head grew in size and crackled with electricity. She sang again and a thunderbolt shot out of the nimbus and into the shadow.

The shadow was carried back and slammed into a nearby tree trunk, and groaned. It shimmered a moment and transformed.

"Wraiths?" Shinobu looked on uncertainly. "What are you doing?"

Wraiths rubbed his head. "Ow…I'm trying to get rid of you people."

Shinobu ran and hid behind Kitsune.

"Then congrats on the failure." Lillith flew off the ground and buried her fist into Wraiths head. "What the hell?" Lillith watched in surprise as the shadow split around her fist and slithered up the tree.

The shadow stopped and began to stretch as Wraiths' face began to form as though he was trying push his way through a plastic bag.

Kaolla made a face. "That is such a poltergeist rip off."

Wraiths glared at her. "Shut up."

Lillith attempted a second attack. Her fist slammed into the tree as the shadow that was Wraiths changed to a doughnut shape to allow her attack to pass. It then closed to grasp her wrist and threw her to the ground. "Ok…he can touch us, but we can't touch him." She mutter angrily amidst her various curses.

Kitsune's fur began to glow with blue-green fire as she charged the amorphous shadow attached to the tree. She gnashed her teeth at her intended victim, but only succeeded in getting a mouthful of splinters as the shadow disappeared. Startled, Kitsune's fire blew out. "Where'd he go?"

"Right here." Called Wraiths from beneath Kitsune before his shadowy body erupted like a geyser and sent the fox flying.

"Kitsune!" Kaolla spun back to the attendant and sang, loud and strong. In response Kaolla's cloud erupted in a furious storm of lightening toward Wraiths. She continued to sing even as she watched her target coil through her attacks with practiced ease.

Lillith was also weaving between the lightening bolts, mirroring Wraith's movements. "I have to find a way to defeat him." She thought silently. "The others don't have the power to take out someone like this. Time to put my demon rank to work." Her horns began to darken as she gathered her power. At last she came to striking distance with her opponent. She dodged to the left at the same moment as Wraiths to avoid Kaolla's lightening. Lillith took that moment to attack and put the full force of her power into her punch. She gasped as she rolled with the follow through past Wraiths.

Shinobu peeked out from where she hid behind the tree. She cautiously made her way toward the demon woman. "Are you ok?"

"I hit him."

Shinobu blinked. "Nani? What are you talking about? You passed right through him."

Lillith nodded. "Yeah, but for a brief moment, I could touch him."

Shinobu's face brightened in excitement. "Great! Do it again!" She turned as she heard Kitsune howl and fire lit the dark area of the forest for a moment.

Kaolla looked through the trees as the light died down again. "Where is he now?"

Kitsune searched the forest. "Damn him! He doesn't leave a scent with that shadow power!"

"Kaolla! Get down!"

The tanned girl dove to the ground just as the shadow scythed through the air where she had stood moments before. She turned over and saw Wraiths standing over her in shadow form, his left hand had changed its shape to that of a long curved blade.

Wraith's physical features were non-descript aside from the human form, but his voice was sad. "You should have stayed still." Behind him a tree split on a clean cut and slid silently until it crashed to the ground. "It would have been quick, clean…painless." He raised his scythe hand.

"Why are you doing this?!"

The scythe stopped it's motion and Wraith's turned to face Shinobu. "Why?" His hand returned to normal, which he then clenched into a fist. "Because you are not meant to even be here! The Earth has already passed through the gates of Armageddon! You should all be dead and moving on to wait for the next realm!"

"Armageddon?" Lillith shook her head. "Earth wasn't around nearly long enough to reach that gate yet."

Wraiths nodded. "True, it was premature, but the end did come." He sighed. "We now have to tie up the loose ends."

"You mean us?" Kitsune's question came out as more fact than uncertainty.

Wraiths nodded again and raised his hand as his scythe began to form. "The denizens of a dead realm can't be wandering about the other realms." He sighed. "If it helps, I take no pleasure in this."

Kitsune howled and a ring of fire surrounded Kaolla.

Wraiths backed away from the fire quickly. "Kuso!"

"I get it now!" Lillith grabbed Shinobu's hand and ran for the fire. "Kitsune! You get over here too!"

The fox complied and joined her friends. "Now what?"

"Surround us with fire!" The demon ordered. She searched for Wraiths as the ring of flame surrounded the small party. At last she was able to see him at the outskirts of the light's reach.

"Very clever." Wraiths clapped his hands slowly. "You figured out my weakness."

Lillith nodded. "You must have some demon in you. Shadows hate the light, it makes sense that your powers would weaken in the presence of enough light."

"Oh!" Shinobu exclaimed, startling the others. "That's why you hit him before, because of how close the lightening was."

Lillith nodded and grinned triumphantly at Wraiths. "Now you can't get close enough to attack us."

"I'd congratulate you but…" Wraiths stepped forward and began to revert to his human appearance as he neared the fire. "Light is a nuisance, but not something I can't handle." He now stood only a few inches from Lillith, separated only by the fiery wall.

Lillith noticed that he didn't try to break through the barrier. "The fire's to hot." She laughed. "You still can't get to us!"

"Yeah, but…" Wraiths smiled knowingly. "You can't move now either without lowering the barrier."

Kaolla frowned. "Which means we can't find the door."

"That's right." Wraiths sat down on the ground. "And the physical laws of nature still apply in this realm." He paused as one of the girl's stomach growled. "I have all the time in the realms. So, I guess you have to pick."

"What a choice." Kitsune muttered.

Shinobu looked around nervously. "I don't understand."

Kaolla sat down on the ground and traced a finger through the dirt. "Either we let down the barrier and let Wraiths kill us."

"Or we wait until we die of starvation and exposure." Lillith concluded. "Let's hope that the others fix this problem with Earth so we have somewhere to go back to. Otherwise, were done either way."

(break)

Motoko stared at the ruined city. She stood atop a cliff and looked down into the valley were the dead civilization rested. She looked over at her traveling companion. Ice hadn't moved since they had discovered the city, except to let his cigarette fall from his fingers. "Where are we?"

"The birthplace of all culture." Ice continued to stare at the city. "Shangri-La."

Motoko did a double take between Ice and the ruins. "This is Shangri-La? But the legends say it was a bustling city with inhabitants of every kind."

"Was." Ice nodded sadly. "The key word of that statement." He swallowed hard. "I haven't been here in…" He shook his head. "We don't have time to go down memory lane, we have work to do." He flexed his wings as he prepared for flight.

"Do you think the door we need is down there?" Motoko asked as Ice picked her up.

"Might be." Ice shrugged. "Might not be."

Motoko looked over the remains of the buildings as they slowly descended from the cliff. She couldn't explain it, but she had the strangest feeling of familiarity as she saw the different sites. "Or perhaps, I'm just feeling Ice's anxiety." She thought. "The closer we get, the more tense his grip becomes." She touched her feet to the ground as Ice landed at the main entrance. Still in awe, she continued to look over the city of legend.

"Stay close." Ice forced open the ancient and rusty gate. "There's no telling who or what may have taken up residence here since the city was deserted."

"Hai." Motoko walked slowly through the empty streets, her hand rested on her sword.

"Hold the at the gate!"

Motoko spun and brought her sword to the ready. "Who's there?" She searched the area she had passed through only moments ago only to find it was still empty. "Who's there?" She turned around again and found Ice was also gone. "Show yourself."

"If the demons get through we're finished! Hold the gates!"

Motoko turned to face the gate. It had not changed since she had passed through it. "What the hell is going on here?" She turned around the corner and ran. "Ice? Where are you?" She ran faster through the streets when she received no response. "Did the attendant already get to him?" Without conscious thought Motoko navigated the pathways perfectly until she reached a cleared square at the center of the city. "Where were you?"

Ice didn't turn.

Motoko was about to get angry with him, but it never came after she surveyed the scene a second time. Ice stood with his eyes closed and the lines of the tears that had fallen were still clearly visible on his face. One of his hands rested against the large, amber monument for support. Motoko slowly shifted her vision from Ice to the statue above him, and gasped.

Unlike the rest of the city, the statue seemed to have been only gently bushed by the passage of time. Its features were still visible and easily identifiable. The garb worn by the figure was that of an angel's robes, but had been torn in such a way that the wearer could move more freely. The left hand was crooked back, and held a diamond the size of a basketball carved into a perfect sphere. The right hand was raised high above the woman's head. At first glance, it looked almost like a fist, but one closer inspection one could see that the grip was hollow. The long hair was tied back into a high ponytail, similar to that of a samurai top knot. Yet it was the face of the woman Motoko's attention.

"It's me." She whispered

Ice shook his head. "No, it's not."

Motoko startled slightly that Ice was able to hear her from across the court yard. "Then… who is it?"

Ice wiped his face dry of his tears. "It's Fria."

"We've been breeched! The fox betrayed us! Get out before we're overrun! I'll hold them here for as long as I can!"

Motoko whirled around in the direction of the voice, sword bared.

Ice looked on quizzically. "What are you…"

Motoko turned back to the angel. "Didn't you hear that voice?"

Ice shook his head.

Without reason, the Hina Blade pulsed. Motoko held up the sword to eye level. "Is this another one of your changes to my sword?"

Ice stared at the young samurai. "You feeling ok Motoko? You're starting to imagine things."

"I am not imagin…" Motoko was stopped at the Hina Blade pulsed again in her hand along with a surge of amber light. She raised an eyebrow as Ice.

Ice nodded. "I saw it that time." His brow wrinkled in concentration. "But why would it react like that? Unless…" He frowned and crossed his arms over his chest.

Motoko frowned as well. "What are you hiding?"

"Actually, quite a bit." Ice admitted sadly as he watched Motoko's frown deepen. "Remember the thing with the girls accusing me of almost killing you?"

Motoko nodded. "Of course, we didn't like you in our home so they were making up stories to get you kicked out."

"No." Ice cut straight to the point. "They weren't."

Motoko blinked in surprise at this. "Then why don't I remember anything?"

Ice slowly walked over to Motoko. "You need to know the truth before we continue searching for the door here." He reached up and placed his hand onto Motoko's forehead. "By my true name, remove the seal and remember."

(break)

Motoko brought her sword up in a forward ready stance in preparation for her attack. "Must you do that?"

Ice took a deep drag of the cigarette he held until half of it was gone. "This is to prove a point. You're no challenge to me, this is fight will be over before I finish this smoke."

Motoko braced herself for a moment, and then charged forward. "Big talk from a man."

Ice spun out of the young samurai's attack and struck Motoko in the back with an open palm. "Slow, and sloppy."

Motoko rolled across the roof and dropped her sword. "How did you do that?"

Ice took another puff of his smoke. "I just told you, you're slow and sloppy." He held the tobacco stick between his lips and began walking toward her slowly while cracking his knuckles. "And with the Hina Blade no less, even if it is tainted with scale blood, is shameful."

Motoko stood and retrieved her sword. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"And no knowledge of the sword's history." Ice ground his teeth in anger. "Bad enough you take her form, but to not even know her past." With an angry grunt he lashed out.

Motoko shifted to a defensive stance and raised the Hina Blade to deter the attack. She gasped as she felt something wet spray against her face. Her sword held in place, but only barely as Ice pressed against the metal with his fist. She watched as the blood trickled down the black steel. Motoko stepped back and gently touched her face, her fingers came away wet with Ice's blood.

"You do realize I could kill you right now, right?" Ice growled as he shook the blood from his hand.

Motoko took another step back as she saw Ice's hand. "The cut…Where's the cut?"

Ice wiped his hand clear so that Motoko could see that there was no mark of any kind. "Are you beginning to understand you fraud? You can't defeat me, because I know you are a lie."

Motoko began to back away. "You're not human…"

Ice shook his head as he closed in. "Nope, and when I'm finished here nor shall you be."

Motoko tightened her grip on the Hina Blade. "I have to warn the others about you. I have to keep them safe. I will not let you beat me."

Ice finished his smoke. "I give you credit for lasting this long, but we're done here."

"I agree." Motoko raised her sword. "Shin Lightning Slash!" She watched in nervous anticipation as one of the most powerful succession moves in her dojo was unleashed. She waited for the impact that never came.

Ice leapt forward and completely dissipated the ki blast by spin kicking through it. He continued on until his foot collided into Motoko's chest with an audible crack.

Motoko screamed for a split second before the bones of her rib cage pierced into the tender flesh of her heart and lungs. She tried to call for help, but only managed to cough up blood. "My ribs…kami-sama…they've pierced my heart." She glanced up as she heard voices calling out to her. In seconds the other members of the household were around her. She tried to warn them of Ice's duplicitous nature, but her vision was badly tunneling, and the world be sank into darkness.

(break)

"You almost killed me." Motoko backed away from Ice in shock.

Ice shook his head. "No, I did kill you Motoko. I launched that attack with the intention to kill, and didn't raise a finger to try to save you."

Motoko held her head in her hands as the memories began to return slowly. "Then why…How did I come back?"

Ice shook his head. "I don't know. I was shocked to see you recover the way you did."

"And to protect your secret you placed a seal around my memories." Motoko finished. "I remember now the ghostly presence of a hand on my forehead as I woke up." She waited as Ice confirmed her memory with a nod. The initial anger that had over taken Motoko slowly ebbed away. "Why tell me this now? We're in a situation that requires us to work together. I don't particularly trust you now."

"That's exactly why I told you." Ice admitted. "We may not see the conclusion, at least not the one we seek, of this journey. You deserve to know the truth."

"You think we're going to die in this place." Motoko stated. "Don't you?"

Ice nodded. "As I held Fria in my arms after finding her here, I promised I would avenge her, and then return to this place to join her when the time came." He laughed bitterly. "But she died trying to protect what she loved, there was no hate in her heart when she passed." He trailed off. "Not like what was in mine. I understand that now." He smiled at Motoko. "I will see you to the home office, get things set up so that you can go home, and then I will return here."

Motoko shook her head. "Baka! You can't just decide when and how to die!"

"But I can choose where." Ice corrected. "I will wait here until my time comes."

Motoko stepped forward. "And what of the people that rely on you?"

"One of my associates will take my place. The office will promote someone" Ice turned and faced the statue. He bowed slightly and turned back to Motoko. "We should try to find that exit."

Motoko didn't move. "What about the people not in your office?"

Ice hung his head. "Don't…"

Motoko blocked his path. "You may have tried to kill me once, but you also saved me! In the bath when the demons first attacked you saved me!" Her face was red with anger, and she could feel the tears at the corner of her eyes. "You trained me to a level my sister could only dream of to help me protect myself! And something happened that night you save me from falling off the roof!"

Ice said nothing.

"Don't try to deny it! I saw that look on your face!" Motoko yelled. "What am I supposed to think after that!"

"Nothing." Ice looked up. "That look wasn't for you. You just look so much like Fria I forgot myself a moment. Nothing more."

"Liar!"

"Enough!" Ice quieted after the momentary outburst. "Don't do this, it's not fair to you."

Motoko stopped her rant a moment longer. "Nani?"

Ice sighed. "I've seen your record Motoko. I know about the portions of yourself you hide from all others."

Motoko blinked and swallowed hard.

Ice shook his head. "I can't be the one. There wouldn't be a day that would go by without me comparing you to Fria. Even if I could put that aside, I will not be a part of bringing more half-breeds into the realms." He side stepped around Motoko and began the search anew.

Motoko spun and hurled the Hina Blade at Ice. "You're nothing more than a coward!"

Ice turned to catch the blade, but it stopped in mid-air before he could. "Huh?" He and Motoko watched as the sword reoriented itself and shot toward a new target. A moment later it rested snugly in the raised grip of Fria's monument. "It can't be…"

The statue began to move until the cold, amber, eyes rested on the travelers. Fria's face transformed into a scowl. "You betrayed me? For a mortal?" She raised her sword to pointing it at Ice. "How could you?" The garb she wore fluttered and transformed into six medium, amber, wings.

Motoko watched Fria charged Ice with the Hina Blade seeking blood. She also saw Ice was still into much of a shock from seeing his dead lover revived to move out of the way to safety. She lunged and pushed Ice out of the way.

Ice fell to the floor and looked up. "No!"

Motoko smiled at him as her life-blood darkened her white gi to match her red hakhama. She clutched the sword that impaled her chest, preventing Fria from free it to renew her attack on Ice. "Guess it doesn't matter now…"

(break)

Kanako looked around the ruins. "Why are we here?"

"They sent us back to Hinata City?" Keitaro scratched his head. "Why here? Why would Haruka, Naru, and Sarah sent us here?"

Kanako kicked a nearby stone, sending it flying into a near by store window.

Keitaro cringed slightly as the glass shattered and fell to the ground with small tinkling sounds. "Feel better now?"

"Not really." Kanako sighed and shook her head. "They sent us back to the beginning of our trip. This makes no sense at all."

Keitaro wrapped an arm over Kanako's shoulder to give her a gentle hug. "There must be a reason, we'll figure it out." He smiled and lead her into the city. "After all, we left the Earth once through some weird door thing once, maybe there's another one to take us to where we want to go to fix all this."

Kanako smiled and nodded. "I hope so." She turned as she heard something in the distance approaching rapidly. "Wings?"

"I hear them." Keitaro confirmed. "The last time we heard sounds like these…"

"We were attacked by Keres." Kanako continued to search the sky. "Maybe we should find some cover."

Keitaro nodded and lead Kanako into a nearby store. "It's strange, but, it doesn't sound entirely like the Keres."

Kanako listened a bit more attentively. "It sounds the same to me."

Keitaro closed his eyes and willed his wings to appear. "If your right, we can make fast escape now." He opened his eyes again. "Want to make a break for it?"

"I think we…"

A crash echoed through the building as something large and heavy landed on the roof. The two Urashimas waited for a few more minutes to see if anything else would happen.

Keitaro smiled. "I think we're clear." He slowly exited the shop with Kanako behind him. "See? Nothing here."

"It's amazing you've survived as long as you have."

Kanako spun toward the sound of the new voice. Rider was leaning against the wall of the store in such a way that Keitaro hadn't seen him before exiting, Ginryuu sat prominently on Rider's shoulders. "How'd you get here?"

Rider pushed himself up off the wall and walked towards the couple. "Immaterial. The subject of the hour is you two."

Kanako dropped into a defensive upper stance and unconsciously slipped into her fully transformed demon state. "And you've come to stop us haven't you?"

Rider's eyes were hidden behind his sunglasses, but his sight was clearly set on Kanako. "Put your claws away, I have a proposition for you." He shifted his gaze to Keitaro. "For both of you."

Keitaro nodded. "Ok, I'm listening."

"Good." Rider waited a moment as Ginryuu made a small growling noise. "Stay here."

Kanako blinked. "Nani?"

"I don't understand." Keitaro shook his head. "How can we stay here?"

"This realm is my domain." Rider explained calmly. "I can bend the very fabric of reality here however I see fit. I'll see to it that you two are completely provided for. For the rest of your lives."

"Why? Why would you do that?" Keitaro shook his head. "It makes no sense."

Kanako nodded. "This world is dead. Your boss said it herself. Why would we want to stay on a dead world?"

"Because you are still alive." Rider sighed. "You really don't have any idea of the trouble the two of you are in."

"Trouble?" Kanako and Keitaro asked confused.

Rider sighed and rubbed his temples. "Do you know why you are still alive when everyone else on the planet is gone?"

"I thought it was from the same reason the other's survived." Keitaro admitted.

"Yeah, Ice's barrier was strong enough to hold of the Hellfire to save the others." Kanako recalled.

Rider nodded. "True, but Ice didn't place a barrier around you. I doubt even one of his barriers could with stand a point blank explosion of Hellfire like yours anyway. Care for a second guess?" He waited as they tried to think up an answer before they gave up. "You didn't die because you were never supposed to live. The Fates can't monitor or influence you."

"We were never supposed to live?" Kanako's brow crinkled in frustration. "What the hell does that mean?"

"Do you see this city?" Rider raised his arms to accentuate the point. "The whole planet looks like this."

"That's why we're trying to fix it." Keitaro defended.

Rider shook his head. "You still don't get it. This, should, not, have, happened." He accentuated each word as though they meant more than what they had at face value. "There is not a Demon in Hell or an Angel in Heaven that has the power to do what she did. This is why half-ling births were forbidden." He stopped to let this sink for the others. "You are a danger to the existence of every realm."

"Then why let us stay here?" Keitaro asked.

Rider shrugged. "Even if you are not supposed to exist, you are still alive as far as I'm concerned. I don't want to kill you. This realm is dead, nothing more can be damaged. You can live out the rest of your lives here happily, just the two of you." He turned to Kanako. "Just as you always wanted."

Kanako blinked. "I did want to be with onii-…Keitaro, but not like this."

Rider raised an eyebrow. "Then why all the Demons?"

Keitaro turned a questioning look between Kanako and Rider. "What are you talking about? Kanako?"

Kanako shook her head. "I have no idea."

Rider leveled a hidden, but uncomfortable, stare on Kanako. "Yes, you do. Search your heart, you know the truth."

Kanako took a step back. "No…"

"Stop this!" Keitaro stepped toward Ice, but stopped as Ginryuu growled loudly. "Stop it."

Rider ignored Keitaro. "Lady Lucifer, your mother Kanako, sent Lillith to protect you. To protect you from yourself as you began to awaken. No one has been sending Demons after you to take you come." He frowned deeply. "You've been calling them to pick you up and take you home."

Kanako stepped forward quickly and slapped Rider. "Shut up! That's a lie!"

Ginryuu flew off Rider with a hiss as the attendant flew across the empty city from the force of the blow. When the dust cleared, he was on his feet once again, completely unscathed. "That was unexpected." He slowly walked back to the Urashimas. "This is why the Demons stopped attacking you in your home here. You found your place, here with your bonded. You stopped calling to your Demon brethren."

"I never called them!" Kanako screamed at him. She turned to Keitaro, her tears flowing down her face. "I didn't."

Keitaro held her close. "I know. I believe you."

Rider shrugged. "Believe what you will. You've heard my offer, will you take it?"

"What happens if we say no?" Keitaro asked as he tried to comfort Kanako. "What if we still want to try to put things back to the way they were?"

Rider sighed. "Things will never be the way they were before. But the only way to attempt that kind of change is to find the doorway and get past me."

Kanako wiped her eyes. "I thought you said you didn't want to kill us."

"I don't." Rider admitted. "But I can't risk the lives of the inhabitants of the other realms either."

Keitaro looked deep into Kanako's eyes. He didn't even have to voice his question. "Sorry Rider. We can't live in a place like this. We need our friends, our family."

Rider nodded. "I figured as much."

Kanako looked at the man in confusion. "You sound almost sad. You could just let us go. Now that I can control my powers, this won't happen again."

"If only I could be sure." Rider brought his hand to his mouth and let out a sharp whistle. He held out his arm as Ginryuu flew down and landed on the out stretched perch. "Gomen nassai." He thrust his arm into the air, much like a falconer, and sent Ginryuu up.

Kanako watched in awe as the small dragon began to glow intense white. "Keitaro, move back."

Keitaro did so without conscious thought. He stared at the glowing figure as it grew to immense proportions. After a few more seconds, the glow faded. "Holy…"

Ginryuu now stood transformed before the half-angel and the half-demon. He roared loudly as he stretched his limbs. His wings extended and toppled the buildings to his sides. His dark blue eyes focused on Kanako, and he roared again to voice his protest of Kanako's earlier action of slapping Rider.

Kanako startled as the silver dragon's jaws opened wide to reveal rows of sharp teeth.

Rider stood atop Ginryuu's massive head with room to spare to walk around. "I urge you to reconsider your path."

Kanako felt a cold sweat break out all over her body as more dragons of every shape, size, color, and element began to appear. They came from the sky, the ground, the water and other simply appeared from nowhere in gouts of flame and or flashes of light. The dragons created a circle around the combatants to be over a distance of a distance of a few blocks.

Rider didn't seem to pay any attention to these new arrivals. "Please, take my offer. Or else your path ends here."

(break)

Wraiths: Sweet! (shifts into shadow form and flies around) Where the hell'd Kyo go? I'm so going to kick his ass now.

Rider: Yeah, yeah.

Star: (floating lazily through the air) This is fun! Thank you for the powers!

Rider: Sure. (rubs his head) I get the feeling that I'm going to regret this later though.

Star: (deadpan stares Rider) You say something?

Rider: (sweat drop) Nothing. (turns to readers) Ok folks. What do you think? Good? Bad? Other? I'd really like to hear what you think, so please leave something if you have the time.

Star: And vote for a sequel to Healing Hearts too while your at it!

Wraiths: Self-insert!

Star: (flies over and gets in Wraiths face) No, Healing Hearts!

Wraiths: Self-insert!

Rider: (sweat drops as the two start fighting) Those two are impossible. 'Till the next, live well all.