Rider: Konbawa Minna-san! First off major apologies for…What the hell? Where'd everybody go?

Star: (Floating threw the air) Probably dealing with mid-terms and exam papers the same as you were. Plus, you take so long in updating that I don't blame them for not reviewing.

Rider: (grinding teeth) You want to be reintroduced to gravity?

Star: (makes a scary face) Get on with the story.

Rider: (Mumbling) Thought I was the one in charge here. (Normal voice) Anyway, as stated, I had a few other things to deal with, but it's here at last the final chapter of the story. So I hope you all enjoy.

Star: Hey, where's Wraiths?

Rider: (opens door to adjacent room)

Wraiths: ( huddled in corner) The square route of Lincolns address is cherry filling except when the market is in recession and squirrels rule the world…

Rider: (closes the door)

Star: (wide-eyed) The hell?

Rider: He didn't survive the mid-term frenzy unscathed, just give him a few days. (Turns to readers) Enjoy the story every one.

In Search Of Her Place

Chapter Fourteen: Rebirth

Naru watched the swirling mists with concerned interest.

Haruka divided her attention between the mists and the young woman. "Maybe you shouldn't be watching all this Naru."

Sarah sat cross-legged on the ground. "Why not? There's nothing else to do right now. We haven't had any entertainment like this in a long time, you should enjoy it."

Naru frowned at the blonde girl. "I can't enjoy this! Those are our friends in trouble!"

"My family is in there too." Haruka pointed out. "I'm as concerned as you are."

"You don't look concerned." Naru focused her attention back on the mist. "You don't look concerned at all."

"I may not show my emotions as openly as you, but that doesn't mean that they aren't there." Haruka puffed her cigarette, a bit angrily. "But I have faith in them. Maybe you should too."

"It's not like they really your family." Sarah replied with a hint of sadness. "Even if we can't control the ending, we all know what it's going to be. Our attendants have never failed to close out a world." She laid down on her stomach to watch the mists. "Then the next world will begin to take shape, we'll take new forms, and start all over again without them."

"We don't exist independently and you know it." Haruka waved her hand and a chair formed from the mist so she could sit. "We're spirits. I made my contract with Haruka when she was no older than four. I share this body with her, when we get back…"

"We're not going back." Sarah sat up and stamped her feet. "We're not!"

"When we get back," Haruka continued ignoring Sarah. "I'm terminating the contract, she's done enough for this life she needs to go back to her family." Haruka rested her head in her hands. "Even if I have grown attached to them all, it's not my life." Her eyes darted over to Sarah and Naru. "Nor are their lives your own, it's time to send them back."

"There won't be anywhere to go back to!" Sarah yelled.

"And you'll be able to so see Seta again." Haruka smiled as Sarah quieted. "Maybe we both will." She paused. "Our human counterparts anyway."

Naru closed her eyes and turned away from the mists. "Yeah, it is time for me to go anyway."

"He does care about you."

Naru shook her head.

Haruka nodded. "Both of you."

Naru smiled at the idea. "It sounds nice, but Sarah's right. This world won't return."

Haruka frowned at her partners' negative outlooks. "We'll see."

(break)

"Please, take my offer." Rider insisted. "Or else your path ends here."

Kanako raised her arms and shifted body into an offensive combat stance. "I broke this world, I can fix it."

"No." Rider crouched down and patted Ginryuu's head. The dragon opened his mouth and began to collect bits of blue light into his gaping maw. "You can't fix it." Rider tapped Ginryuu again and the dragon fired the blast of magic energy. "No one can undo death, especially not of this magnitude."

Kanako stared wide eyed at the blast. "It's too big…" At the corner of her vision, a black streak raced out. From her other side, a streak of yellow and green. She watched as the two figures intercepted the impossibly large force, and with some effort, managed to stop it.

Keitaro blinked his eyes after the light from the explosion faded. "Tama-chan? Kuro?"

The cat grinned cockily at Kanako. "You're not the only one with some fancy tricks." He leaned over and pawed at Tama's shell. "Are you hurt?"

Tama shook her head. "Just a tad singed."

Keitaro stared at the tiny turtle. "You stopped that blast? I never realized you were so powerful."

Tama smiled. "I am happy I could help you, Keitaro-sama." She turned as Ginryuu roared again at the intrusion of the small guardians. "Please allow me to assist you again."

Kuro smiled a feral smile and his fur began to darkened further. "Yeah, we'll take the over grown lizard out of the way Kanako-sama. Just smack that stupid attendant a few times for me too." His limbs began to grow to human proportions and after a moment stood in were-cat form. "This should work much better."

Kanako and Keitaro stared. "When…"

A slender, yellow hand rested on Kuro's shoulder as a beautiful woman with green hair that fell all the way to the ground came into view. "Come on Kuro, we have work to do."

The were-cat nodded and took the woman's hand in his own. He gave it a gentle squeeze. "Right, let's go Tama."

Keitaro watched as Kuro and Tama walked confidently toward Ginryuu, hand in hand. "When did they?"

Kanako shook her head. "No idea." She watched as their guardians leapt and double-team punched the large dragon in the snout, toppling the mammoth reptile to the ground.

Rider landed with a crash a few feet away. "Ginryuu?" He nodded as he got a roar in response. "A miscalculation it seems, they are yours." He rose and faced Kanako and Keitaro. "Seems you have quite the good luck." He took a deep breath, and sighed. "Let's move on with this."

Keitaro spread his wings in preparation to attack.

Kanako's horns darkened as she gathered her energy.

In the distance, the dragons took flight.

(break)

Lillith stared at Wraiths across the fire that circled her and the others. "Kitsune? You holding up ok?"

Kitsune panted slightly. "The fire has burned a long time. I'm starting to feel a bit drained."

"This should help to restore you." Kaolla knelt next to the fox and hummed a few notes to bring a soothing, gentle rain down on her.

Shinobu rubbed Kitsune's brow, helping the water to penetrate through the dense fur to the skin beneath. "Is that better?" Shinobu frowned as the fox nodded weakly.

Lillith stood and walked over to where the other girls. "Pull the fire back so we have just enough area to surround us, nothing more."

Kitsune nodded and complied. She breathed deeply as she was able to store some magic back up.

"That only buys you a couple hours at most." Wraiths shook his head. "Just let me finish this."

Lillith sneered at him. "I don't go out without a fight."

"Fight?" Wraiths looked over the barrier. "Looks more like you're hiding to me."

Lillith hissed at Wraiths and moved away. She huddled the others around her. "We need to find this damn door, or we need to take him out of the picture." She whispered.

Kaolla nodded in agreement. "But Wraiths is the only one who knows where the door is for certain. Even if we defeat him, we'll be stuck here."

"So we keep him alive long enough to tell us where it is!" Lillith fumed in anger at being so helpless. "We can't just sit here forever."

Kitsune raised her head. "If I could get a scent, I might be able to find the door."

"You can't move around easily if you continuously summon fire." Lillith pointed out. "We need you here right now."

"Then we're still stuck." Kaolla pressed her fingers together. "What about launching an attack from here. If I can generate lightning fast enough…"

"You threw a storm at him before and there was no effect." Kitsune reminded the element summoner.

"We only need one good hit though." Lillith made a fist and slammed it into her opposing hand. "The light would solidify him long enough for a good old-fashioned haymaker."

"That still doesn't solve the question of where the door is." Shinobu stood and crossed toward the flame wall. "But I think I can find out where it is." She stretched out her hand until it was just short of the fire.

Wraiths raised an eyebrow in confusion. "What the hell are you doing? You are the least threatening of the entire…" Wraiths' body suddenly went rigid and he fell to his knees. "You bitch…get out…of my…brain!" He snapped his head forward.

Shinobu flew backward violently fast as Wraiths severed the connection. She smiled as Kaolla caught her.

Kaolla frowned and bopped Shinobu over the head. "What was that!"

Wraiths spit froth from his mouth and rubbed at his temples. "It won't do you any good."

"What won't do us any good? Shinobu? What did you do?" Lillith demanded.

Shinobu stood. "I used what Kitsune taught me to track the door." She smiled triumphantly. "But I used it to track down the information instead of the actual door."

Seemingly caught up in Shinobu's exuberating, Lillith also began to smile. "You little sneak! You hacked the info right from his mind with you empath powers!"

Shinobu nodded. "I wasn't sure if I could, but I had to try."

Kaolla bear hugged Shinobu. "Where's the door then?"

Shinobu pointed just outside the circle. "Can you extend the fire Kitsune? The young empath walked forward as the barrier extended and bent down on all fours to dig into the dirt.

The others watched with their breaths held tightly in their chests as Shinobu continued to move soil.

Shinobu lay down on her stomach and reached deep into the small hole she had created. "Almost…" The light that flooded out came so fast that Shinobu seemed to disappear for a moment in the blaze.

Kaolla lowered her hand from her shielded view. "I never read about that." She continued to stare at the white door that rose slowly from the large crater that now replaced Shinobu's smaller hole. The light began to fade and revealed an ivory door with intricately carved scenes of what looked like angels, demons, and other beings on a pilgrimage. "Is this what we're looking for?"

Lillith let out hoot of excitement as she grabbed Shinobu and swung her around. "You did it!" She motioned the others to follow her as she neared the door. "Come on, lets get out of here."

"Don't touch the door!" Shinobu clutched at Lillith's sleeve and pulled the demon the direction opposite the door.

Kitsune cocked her head to the left. "What's gotten into you Shinobu?" The fox focused on the younger girl. "Your eyes…"

Kaolla crouched down and stared a Shinobu's eyes, she blinked at what she saw. She waved her hand in front of her friend's face. "Shinobu?" Kaolla waved her hand again, but there was still no response.

Shinobu reached out clumsily and, after a few attempts, finally grasped Kaolla's hand. "I didn't…" Tears began to fall from Shinobu's eyes. "I'm sorry…"

Lillith lifted Shinobu's head. "Blind? How?" She spun and glared at Wraiths. "What did you do?"

Wraiths shook his head. "It wasn't me."

"Bull…" Lillith felt Shinobu tug at her sleeve. "Nani?"

Shinobu shook her head. "Wraiths didn't do this to me."

"Then who?" Kaolla asked.

"I warned you that finding the door wouldn't do you any good." Wraiths muttered.

Kitsune growled and bristled her fur. "What do you mean?"

"It was my fault." Shinobu continued to cry. "I didn't get all the information I needed. I found the door, but…"

Kaolla turned and stared at the door. There was one small point that still shimmered with bright light. "The keyhole."

"Keyhole?!" Kitsune growled. "You mean the damn thing is locked?!"

"Well, duh." Wraiths made a face at the Fox-spirit. "Did you really think we leave the door to the universe unlocked for anyone to stumble into? Do you have any idea how much trouble that could cause?" Wraiths sighed. "Bad enough Miss Demon and her bonded battering rammed the first door on Earth."

"Without the key, any attempt to force open the door will end with a similar result as mine." Shinobu warned.

"Let me take a wild guess who has the key." Kaolla's eyes narrowed to slits as her anger overtook her. She faced Wraiths and grit her teeth. "You hurt my friend."

"What's going on?" Shinobu asked nervously.

Lillith swallowed as thunder clouds gathered with alarming speed above Kaolla. "Nothing." She had Shinobu sit down. "Stay here." She rose and grabbed Kaolla's arm, only to be thrown back as electricity surged around the Molmolian Princess.

Kaolla raised her hand above her head and began to gather the lightening into her palm. "I'm going to make you pay for that. Even if I have to you use every trick I learned while studying the Akashic Records to do it." With her intent stated, one final thunderbolt shot down into Kaolla's body and crackled around her.

Wraiths gasped as Kaolla disappeared into a flash of light. He felt the hairs raise on the back of his neck as the electricity gathered at a new point directly behind him and instinctively transformed into a shadow. It availed him nothing.

"After a ten thousand lifetimes of studying," Kaolla materialized behind Wraiths holding a basket ball sized blast of lightening. "I know a great many tricks." She slammed the blast into Wraiths back, and in turn slammed Wraiths into the tree directly in front of him.

Wraiths fell to his knees and spit blood from his mouth. He lifted his head and grinned. "At last, some action." He leapt, and light and dark swirled into chaos.

(break)

Motoko could feel the sword in her ribs, but it didn't hurt. Instead, she felt warm, and light.

"Motoko."

Motoko turned toward the sound of the voice and found herself face to face with her reflection. "I heard you, in the city."

The reflection smiled and nodded. "Yes, do you know who I am?"

Motoko nodded. "You're me." She paused and shook her head. "No, that's not right. You're what I was, right?"

"Hai. I fell in the final battle of this city." The reflection smiled. "But I couldn't leave without saying good bye to my friends and family." The reflection's smile faded. "My time is past. I have a favor to ask you. Is that ok?"

Motoko nodded.

The reflection's smile returned. "Thank you. Please tell him to listen to Tama. And even though we disagree with the way things are handled, please tell my sister I still love her too." The reflection began to fade away. "I must go now, but I have one last gift for you." The reflection held her hand out and an orb of white light floated out from her palm and into Motoko.

Motoko gasped. "You were the one who…"

The reflection nodded and faded further. "It was the only way to save you, and him. But with my fading so will the spell." A lone tear fell down her cheek. "It is so much to ask…"

"You don't have to." Motoko smiled. "I'll take care of it."

"Arigato Motoko."

Motoko shook her head as the apparition faded completely. "Iie, arigato, Fria."

(break)

On the ground Ice watched as Motoko grasped the blade of the sword in her chest. His eyes instantly focused on the fact that her life's blood was staining her gi as red as her hakhama. "No!"

"Guess it doesn't matter now." Motoko smiled at the confused angel and slowly walked forward. Once clear of the blade, Motoko's gi returned to it's original white again. "I'm not going to die on my own sword."

Ice stared, completely mute, at Motoko.

Motoko held out her hand toward the amber figure. "Rather, our sword." Motoko beckoned and the sword flew from the statues grip. She smiled as the statue's eyes widened and pointed the Hina Blade at it. "Because this sword is certainly not yours anymore than you are who you pretend to be."

Motoko threw the sword high into the air, as she expected the statue trained it's eyes on the ascending metal blade. She sprinted with all her might at her opponent, surprising herself with her speed. By the time the statue of Fria realized the true purpose of all these movements, Motoko was already in position. She brought the sheath of the Hina Blade around and struck the statue's face. Motoko smiled as the amber shattered like cheap glass and fell to the ground.

Ice stared as a new face appeared at the head of Fria's monument. His awe was quickly replaced by anger. "I'll kill you Attendant!"

Star leapt back and the remainder of the amber covering fell away. She pulled at her left eye and stuck out her tongue. "Even you don't have the power to do that angel."

Ice grinned though his clenched teeth at the challenge. "You have no idea what I can do." He brought his arms in at his sides and extended his wings as far out as he could.

Motoko placed a hand on Ice's shoulder. "Listen to Tama-chan."

Ice turned and relaxed his stance. "What did you say?"

Motoko nodded. "I'm not sure what that means, but it's what she wanted me to tell you."

"She?" Ice questioned uncertainly. He looked on passively as Motoko place the Hina Blade into his hand. He felt his breath catch as the sword pulsed. He returned his attention to Motoko. "She? You? But?"

Motoko smiled. "Well, aren't you the articulate one."

Ice blinked at the playfully sarcastic tone in Motoko's voice, then smiled. "Shut up you."

Motoko returned Ice's smile, the first warm smile he had given her. "We'll…talk? Later?"

Ice nodded. "Yeah, but first…" He turned his attention back to Star, and his wings returned to their attack stance.

Motoko took Ice's hand. She felt her gi begin to loosen and transform around her body as they took the form of six white wings that mirrored Ice's perfectly. Together, they flew forward and clothes-lined the shocked attendant across her windpipe.

Ice leaned down and shook the unconscious woman. "That was easier than expected." Her saw a thin chain around Star's neck and pulled it out into view to reveal a small black key.

Motoko looked at him questioningly. "A souvenir?"

Ice shook his head. "No, I just get the feeling that we'll need this." He looked around. "Let's find that door before she wakes up again."

Motoko nodded and flew beside Ice. "Still upset that no one is normal at Hinata-sou?"

Ice chuckled. "Who wants to be normal anyway?"

Star sat up as the winged warriors flew further into the ruined city. "Search all you like. The key won't do you any good." She picked up a shattered piece of the amber and rolled between her fingers, revealing a small key shaped recess carved into it. She stood and tucked the piece of amber with the keyhole into her pocket. "Better luck next time."

(break)

Keitaro pushed himself up off the ground. "That wasn't fun." He rubbed his cheek where Rider had hit him and winced. "Where's…" He ducked as Kuro went flying over his head.

The were-cat sat up and groaned. "Kanako-sama?"

"I was about to ask you the same thing." Keitaro forced himself to his feet, and then extended his hand to help Kuro up. "Any ideas?"

"Kuro smash?" The were-cat shrugged. "I don't know." He ran off and caught Tama as the woman fell from the sky.

Keitaro looked up and saw Rider standing on Ginryuu holding Kanako by the collar of her shirt. "Let her go!"

Rider shrugged and dropped his captive.

Keitaro positioned himself beneath Kanako's falling form. He managed to catch her, but the force of the fall caused him to collapse to the floor again. He looked up as Ginryuu landed a few meters away. "Going to finish us off now?"

Rider shook his head. "You are beaten, and far to exhausted to be a threat in any manner. I told you, I don't want to kill you, just contain you." Rider raised his arm and dismissed the surrounding dragons. "You may want to leave this place, but you know longer have the power to."

Keitaro stood and held Kanako in his arms. "Then what do we do now?"

"I don't really care." Rider grabbed Ginryuu's wing and swung up onto the dragon's head. "Go home and live your lives. If you try to find the door again once you regain your strength, I'll just come back to tire you out again."

Keitaro watched as the attendant and the dragon flew off. He looked down at Kanako and smiled sadly. "I'll figure something out for you." He felt two familiar weights settle on his shoulders. "May as well go home."

Tama, now in her original form, nodded.

"Yeah, go lick our wounds." Kuro, also in his smaller form, agreed bitterly.

Tama rubbed her flipper over Kuro's back. "Rest now. We'll have another chance." She looked over at Keitaro. "Unless you'd like us to stop."

Keitaro simply started walking toward Hinata-sou. "I don't know, we…I have to talk with Kanako."

(break)

Kanako awoke with a start and bolted out of her futon. She crashed to the floor again as she tangled her feet in her blanket. As she fell she dislodged one of the boards in the floor. She rubbed at her forehead. "Hinata-sou? I must have been knocked out." She looked around and discovered that she was alone in Keitaro's room. Her stomach growled as she smelled something cooking in the kitchen. However, before she could investigate this aroma, she focused on the shifted floor board. She reached under the floor and felt around until she came across something hidden.

Kanako pulled out a large book with a black binding. The edges of the book covering were tattered and dog-eared. "What could this be?" She opened the book and almost dropped it. "These photos…" She reached out and traced the faces in the pictures. "My first Christmas with Keitaro." She turned the page. "The Sakura Festival in Tokyo." Another page was turned, and she felt her temple throb. "That damn chocolate cake…" She scanned the next two photos and felt her heart melt as the scenes they contained.

The first was of Kanako and Keitaro at their secret meeting place, the pond by the back waterfall. Keitaro had his arm wrapped around Kanako's shoulders and had pulled her to him so that they were cheek to cheek. Kanako could see that only half of Keitaro's free arm was visible. That explained the why the photo was tilted to one side, Keitaro was trying to take the picture by himself. She smiled at the cute end result. Even skewed she could see both of the children smiled brightly at the camera.

The photo on the page opposite was also badly tilted, even more so than the first, because neither member of the party was looking at the camera. "I didn't think this photo was around any more." She pulled the photo from the book. "Mom completely freaked out when she developed this film, I was sure she destroyed all the copies." She flipped the picture over and saw the words on the back.

"First, and most treasured." She smiled and felt the tears welling at her eyes. She flipped the photo over and held it close to her chest. "It's my most treasured kiss too." She looked up as the door slid open.

Keitaro entered the room carrying a tray. He set the meal, some miso, grilled fish, and rice, down between Kanako and himself. "It's not as good as something Shinobu would make, but after sleeping for three days, but it's better than nothing." He sat and studied Kanako intently. "How are you feeling?"

"Hungry, but otherwise fine." Kanako set down the photo before reaching for the miso and took a small sip. "I've been asleep for three days?"

Keitaro nodded and handed Kanako a napkin. "Yeah, Kuro says you used up to much of your magic fighting Rider and had to replenish it." He paused and picked up some of his fish. "I was going to ask you something when I came in here, but I think you already answered it." He bit into his fish and chewed slowly. "So the only question is…"

"Is how to we beat that annoying reptile rider?" Kanako finished. "Or how do find the door without him realizing it?"

"Both." Keitaro sighed sadly. "He's not going to just let us go. Maybe we should try to find the doorway first once we know were that is we can figure out a way to get through it." He sighed again and then ate in silent contemplation.

Kanako finished her meal shortly after. "I think we should go check out the door that first took us to the World Tree."

Keitaro scratched his head. "Why?"

"It felt strange when I first touched it." Kanako rubbed her hands together. "I want to see if I can sense it again. Once I get an idea of what it's supposed to feel like, I might be able to sense if there are any other doors nearby."

"Makes sense." Keitaro agreed. "But what makes you think there are other doors at all."

Kanako smiled. "Aunt Haruka wouldn't send us here if there was only one door that would lead to the beginning again rather than the end."

"Sarah might though…" Keitaro muttered nervously.

Kanako stood and took Keitaro's hand. "She's not that bad. Now let's go look." She led the way out to the forested areas that surrounded the Hinata-sou. "There's the alter that Ice built."

Keitaro pointed toward some broken trees. "And the giant demon attacked from over there."

Kanako slowly walked along the dirt path. "Then the door should be…" She reached out and pushed against the empty air. "Here." The air shimmered as the mirage fell away. The door was considerably smaller than it had been a few days ago, but they could still see that scar of Ice and Lillith's forced entry over the seal. "It feels completely different than before."

"Kitsune mentioned that the tree was alive." Keitaro remembered. "It must be trying to heal the cut in the realm." He watched as Kanako pulled her hand away from the door and the mirage returned again. "Do you sense any other doors."

Kanako turned in a slow circle, as though taking a scan of the grounds. "Yes…maybe…I don't know." She stopped and shook her head. "Something is nearby, I just can't figure out where." Kanako shook her head and began to walk home. She relaxed a bit as she felt Keitaro wrap his arm around her. "Where are Kuro and Tama?"

"They said they wanted to look around." Keitaro replied. "Something about the world feeling wrong."

"At least I'm not the only one." Kanako sighed.

Keitaro gave her reassuring pat on the back. "Your never alone Kanako. You should know that by now."

"Yeah, just you, me, and the voice in my head." Kanako kicked a pebble up through the tree tops. "And the demons the come out of the…" Kanako stopped. "Water…It's there!" Kanako grabbed Keitaro's wrist and ran.

Keitaro struggled to keep up. "Where are we going?"

"I know where the door is!" Kanako ran passed the Hinata-sou with Keitaro in tow. "Kuro! Tama-chan!"

The black feline floated out of the front second floor window. "What's all the yelling about?"

"Just follow us!" Keitaro yelled back as Kanako continued to pull him away. "Kanako? Where is the door?"

Kanako didn't answer until they arrived at their destination. "It's right here."

Keitaro looked at the waterfall and the pond beneath it. "Here? Are you certain?"

Kanako nodded. "Now that I'm closer, I can sense it more clearly." Her smile faded. "Now if only I knew how to open it."

Tama flew down from above along with Kuro. "We already looked through this area." The shelled guardian stated. "There's no door here."

Kanako shook her head. "No, the door is just masked."

Kuro scratched his head. "Nani?"

"How did you and Lillith arrive here Kuro?" Kanako asked.

"Simple, used a magic spell to turn any reflective surface into a portal between…" Kuro stopped. "Son of a bitch!"

Kanako nodded. "Where better to hide one secret than right next to another one." She turned to Keitaro. "You remember how we sat here a few days ago?"

Keitaro nodded.

"Ice never sealed the portal here, but no demons came through when we were at our most vulnerable." Kanako traced the water with her finger.

"They couldn't get through the portal here because the door that the Attendants use must have blocked the way." Tama reasoned.

Kanako nodded. "That's what I figured." She continued to run her hand through the water. "But the energy is less pronounced here then it was at the point that Lillith and Ice opened up. It's almost like…" Kanako stumbled back as the water rose and snapped a set of jaws at her.

Kuro cursed and slashed at the figure. "Damn, a water dragon. Which means that…" He turned, as did the others, as they heard the sound of slow clapping.

Rider stepped forward from the shadows. "I didn't think you'd actually find it. But you are right, this door is different then the one Naru opened. Do you know what that difference is?"

"This door is still locked." Kanako stepped forward. "But I'm guessing you have the key I need to open it."

Rider shook his head. "I am not so foolish as to hold the key you need when I want to keep that door locked."

"Which means the key must be somewhere else!" Kuro flew around in a circle excitedly. "We just have to find it!"

"And how will you do that?" Rider asked. "You have no idea where the key could be, or even what it looks like."

"But it will give off a magic pulse like the door." Tama landed on Keitaro's shoulders. "We'll track that."

"And if it's masked?" Keitaro asked. "Like the door is? What then?"

Rider nodded. "You are smarter than you look. Don't waste your lives searching for it. Go home, live your lives and be happy."

"I don't believe you." Kanako's skin began to slowly darken and her horns began to grow. "I think you have the key on you right now."

Rider shook his head. "You are mistaken."

Kuro looked around the trees. "Hey, did anyone else realize that Rider is missing his better looking half?"

"What?" Keitaro blinked. "Oh, the dra…" Keitaro swallowed hard as he felt something breath on the top of his head. "Gon." He looked up into the smiling jaws of Ginryuu, and screamed, loudly.

"Relax, Ginryuu's not going to eat you." Rider beckoned the dragon. "Not unless you continue this stupidity with the door."

Kuro maneuvered through the air until he was nose to nose with Rider. "Take your threats and shove them."

"Whatever." Rider turned and walked away. "Your still trapped here, no need for brutality."

Kanako sprinted forward and blocked the Attendant's path. Without warning her foot came up and connected with Rider's jaw. The force of Kanako's kick sent her target back and into the air. Kanako smiled slightly as Rider landed in the pond with a splash. "Guess you can be surprised after all."

Keitaro stared into the pond. "Kanako? Did you use any magic on him?"

"No. Why?" Kanako looked over Keitaro's shoulder. "Where the hell is he?"

The half-lings and guardians took a step back as steam began to rise up from the water. Once the surface of the water was covered over a set of gray double-doors rose out for all to see. Two figures, one on each door, were etched into the metal.

The first figure was clearly demonic in origin. Seven horns stood out prominently on her head and her finger nails were long and sharp. One hand was raised to chest level and rested against the half-circle that served as the handle at the center of the doors.

Kanako focused on the woman. "She looks happy. See? Look at the smile."

Kuro flew over and studied the picture. "Been a long time since…" He stopped and looked around nervously. "Never mind."

Keitaro looked over at the photo. "She's a bit older, but she looks a bit like you Kanako."

Kanako nodded slightly. "Yeah, feels familiar too. Like I've seen her before. And look at this one, he kind of looks like you."

On the other door was a picture of a young man with large wings that lifted him off the simulated ground. He mirrored his counterpart in that one of his hands supported the other half of the circular door handle. He too smiled.

Tama bowed her head to the picture before turning to Keitaro. "What do we do now Keitaro-sama?"

"You do nothing!" The doors opened for a moment and Rider passed through. He rubbed the large bruise on his chin. "Get away from the door and forget about it!"

"Looks like we pissed someone off." Kuro smirked and transformed. He flexed his hands to reveal his claws. "Want to play scratch post? Always helps me cheer me up."

Tama also transformed herself and turned to Ginryuu. "We're both logical, cold-blooded beings. Can't we resolve this peacefully?" She sighed as Ginryuu shook his head.

Kanako faced Rider. "Get out of my way."

Rider's frown deepened. "No."

"Then I'll just have to move you." Kanako rushed forward and released a left cross punch toward Rider. Pain ran through her body as Rider side stepped her attack and closed his hand around her face.

"Get off her!"

Kanako rubbed her face as Rider was torn away from her. She watched wide eyed as Keitaro threw Rider into the steel double doors.

Keitaro turned his attention to Kanako. "Are you hurt?"

Kanako shook her head, but continued to watch Rider as he slammed into the gateway. She smiled as the doors reverberated with the force of the blow. "He has the key on him."

Keitaro looked back to the rising Attendant. "Nani?"

"The door opened for a moment just as he hit it." Kanako smiled widened, refreshed by this new turn of events. "I'm going to find it and fix this world."

Keitaro tried to stop her as she rushed for Rider again. "You don't have to do this alone." He whispered as he trailed after her.

Rider stood and brushed the water from his sunglasses. "Fools, you still don't understand." He pulled his arm in to his side in a ready position. "You can not fix this world Kanako, you don't have the power to give life." His hand began to glow with soft silver light. "No one has that ability."

Kanako drew closer to Rider and she gathered her power. "Ice says there are people who can though, and I will find them to help me."

Rider shook his head and time seemed to slow. "You still do not understand…" He brought his glowing right hand forward and braced it with his left. "I hope you will learn from this lesson and not fail again in the next world." The silver blast of magic energy raced forward toward Kanako.

Kanako's magic centered in her hand. "I don't need the next world, I'm going to restore this one." She fired her own blast of black, demonic magic back at Rider. She struggled to maintain control as the two blasts collided with the other, but was forced to give ground as she was overwhelmed with the power Rider possessed. Her vision tunneled as she saw Rider's blast sharpen to a point and race toward her as it split her own blast in two. "I can't stop it."

"Move!" Kuro slammed his body into Kanako as hard as he could and forced her out of the way.

Kanako turned and time slowed further as she watched the silver energy pass through Kuro's chest. The force of the blast lifted him higher into the air for a moment before gravity took a hold of him and slammed him into the ground. "Kuro?" The were-cat didn't rise to her call. Kanako walked slowly, nervously, to her friend. "Come on, stop playing around. Just like at the bridge."

Keitaro was watching Kanako as Tama fell against him. "What's wrong?"

Tama didn't seem to be able to speak through her labored breathing. She merely pointed toward Kuro.

"Ok, I'll take you to him." Keitaro place Tama's arm around his neck to help support her as they walked over toward Kuro and helped her to sit.

Kuro looked up as Tama placed his head in her lap. His breathing was synchronized perfectly to Tama's. He smiled at her for a moment. Slowly, almost painfully he turned to look at Kanako. His lips moved, but no sound issued forth.

Kanako knelt down to try to hear him better.

"He wants you to know he cares for you." Tama told her. "He also says not to cry, just go kick Rider's ass."

Kuro smiled and nodded almost imperceptibly. His lips moved again.

Tama smiled. "Can he ask you a favor?"

"Of course." Kanako leaned in.

"Tell my brother I still think he's a jerk, but I love him anyway." Tama supplied for Kuro.

Kuro attempted to motion toward the pond.

Tama nodded in understanding. "Don't let Rider get away. He's hiding something, we're sure of it."

Kanako nodded and began to move off toward the Attendant.

Keitaro knelt down beside Tama and Kuro. "We're sure of it?"

Tama nodded. "Kuro's been badly wounded, the only reason he's alive right now is because we're in contact with one another."

"I don't understand." Keitaro looked down at Kuro and then to Tama. "What do you mean?"

"We are bonded." Tama explained. "I can feel his pain as though it is my own. We are existing off each other now. Be careful Keitaro-sama, Rider is far more dangerous than we thought."

Keitaro frowned. "How?"

"Kuro should not be this injured." Tama traced a finger over Kuro's chest. "The only way to kill a demon or an angel is to behead them."

Keitaro breathed a sigh of relief. "Then he'll be ok?"

Tama shook her head. "Rider's blast seems to possess elements of null-magic. The wound may prove fatal Keitaro-sama." Tama cried softly. "I will keep us alive as long as I can, but…" She swallowed hard. "It has been wonderful living with you Keitaro-sama. Thank you for everything."

"Wait a minute…" Keitaro began.

Tama shook her head and gently pushed Keitaro in Kanako's direction. "The bonded live and die as one. There is nothing you can do now, except to help Kanako fix this world. That is the only hope to save everyone."

Keitaro shook his head. "I don't know how though, I need time to…"

Tama pressed on of her fingers against Keitaro's lips. "You do know, in fact, you've taken the first step already." She shuddered as pain spasamed through her body. "Go help her." She watched as her charge rose and ran after Kanako and smiled sadly. She then looked down at Kuro, his eyes were closed but he was still breathing. "I wish I could save you myself, but I can't." She smiled. "At least I could help you tell Kanako your feelings for her." She leaned down and kissed his forehead. "Perhaps you will look to me with love in the next life." She closed her eyes and rested beneath the tree with her bonded until time took them both and the mists surrounded them.

(break)

Naru rubbed her hands together. "Things are getting out of control."

"Not really." Haruka stretched casually. "Everyone's still alive and where they're supposed to be."

Sarah thrust her hand through the mist she watched. "That's why thing are getting out of control! They're not supposed to be either of those things!"

Haruka smiled. "Didn't I tell you not to underestimate them?" She picked her head up as the mists began to swirl around her. "Ano?"

Naru's head swiveled back and forth as the mists surrounded them. "I didn't do it."

"Me either." Sarah rose from where she lay on the ground. She neared the windstorm and tried to force her way though it. She ran her hands along the mist when she found she couldn't pass through. "I don't believe it, it's not solid, but it may as well be. We're trapped."

"Who could trap us?" Naru asked as she too tested the barrier. "This is bad if we can't use the mists to see the realms."

Haruka just smiled. "Don't worry, this should work itself out."

(break)

Kaolla rolled over on her back as she tried to catch her breath. A few feet away she could see Wraiths leaning heavily on a tree, also out of breath. "Are you going to let us go now?"

"I wouldn't let you out even if I could." Wraiths replied through his heavy breaths. "I told you, I don't have the key." He shifted into his shadow form once again. "This fight's over." The shadow elongated and knifed toward the fallen princess.

Shinobu pulled on Kitsune's fur. "On the left!"

Kitsune hesitated a moment before she realized what Shinobu meant. With a howl from the fox, fire lanced out from the barrier to Kaolla's right side. A second howl echoed through the forest as Wraiths was struck by the gout of flame.

Wraiths reverted to his human form again. He quickly patted himself down and was relieved to find that the fire hadn't penetrated his thick leather coat. "What the hell was that?"

Lillith stared wide eyed at Shinobu. "You knew where he was?"

Shinobu turned to the sound of Lillith's voice and nodded. "There was a flash of light that was near Kaolla…" Shinobu paused. "At least I think it was Kaolla from all the lightening I saw."

"How can you see if you're blind?" Kaolla asked as she stood on unsteady legs.

Kitsune sniffed the younger girl's eyes. "The door didn't blind her. It transformed her vision to pick up magic rather than light."

"It will avail you nothing." Wraiths stood and shifted to his altered form again.

Kitsune smiled. "I couldn't disagree more."

Lillith caught Kitsune's meaning and bent down to whisper to Shinobu. "Can you track Wraiths' movements and tell us where to attack?"

Shinobu swallowed nervously. "I don't know, but I can try."

"Then that's all I can ask." Lillith patted Shinobu on the shoulder. "Get ready." Lillith surrounded herself with magic. "Can you see me?"

Shinobu nodded.

Kitsune and Kaolla duplicated Lillith's method.

Wraiths shifted his vision over the party that confronted him. "I will not let you beat me."

Lillith flew up and dive-bombed Wraiths' position.

"To the right!" Shinobu yelled.

Lillith shifted her attack on the fly and summoned fire to her hand as she punched Wraiths' shadow. She smiled as the light forced him solid again and she landed a direct blow.

Dazed from the demon's punch, Wraiths lay on the ground unable to more even as a ring of fox-fire surrounded him. "That's a new feeling." He rose and tried to cross through the flames. He stopped as a bolt of electricity lanced into the ground in front of him.

Kaolla smiled as Wraiths scowled at her. "We'll take that key now."

"I don't have it." Wraiths sat down in the middle his prison. "I told you that already."

Kitsune growled and made her fire move in toward Wraiths. "You sure?"

Wraiths didn't act concerned that the fire was nearer to him now, though he did seem to begin sweating a bit more. "Yes, I'm sure." He mocked in a high, whining voice.

Lillith frowned. "Shinobu? The key should emit magic like the door. Do you sense it?"

Shinobu pause a moment as she studied Wraiths. "His whole body is glowing with magic. I can't pick out one spot that's stronger than the other."

"Wonderful." Lillith muttered.

Kitsune snorted in aggravation. "Let's just kill him and search the body."

Wraiths glared at her. "Go ahead and try."

"Guys?" Kaolla pointed toward the door with a shaky hand. "Something's happening."

The others turned and watched as mist began to pour from the edges of the door. The mist slowly began to creep toward the party and take hold of them.

Lillith fought against the vaporous bindings, but even her superior demon strength could not seem to break the bindings. "Hey! Leather boy! What the hell are you trying to pull?" Her jaw dropped as she saw Wraiths also fighting to free himself. "The only thing that could make this worse now is…" She turned to see the mist was retreating back through the gaps in the door, taking her an the others with it. "Is that." She fought harder to free herself.

(break)

"Ice! Slow down!" Motoko struggled to keep up with the angel as they franticly searched the city for the door that would lead them home.

Ice looped back and picked Motoko up onto his back. "We don't have time to slow down." He speed up to a pace even faster than he had traveled before. "I can feel it. Something's is happening somewhere to Keitaro and Kanako. And Lillith and the others are having issues of their own as well."

Motoko blinked. "How do you know that?"

"Lillith is my bonded, the dark counterpart of my light. I feel everything she feels, experience almost everything she does." Ice frowned. "We must hurry."

"How do you know about Keitaro and Kanako then?" Motoko asked as she continued to survey the passing ruins.

"Keitaro is…" Ice made a face as he tried to think of the best way to describe it. "I'm Keitaro's guardian because he's my boss' son."

"Oh, because Keitaro's an angel you can sense him too." Motoko figured out.

"Yeah, sure." Ice dodged to the left as a blast of white light shot past him. "What the hell was that?"

Motoko looked down to the site the blast came from. "Over there! The Attendant!"

Star slowly floated up to block Ice and Motoko's path. "I've had enough of this little charade. I think it's time we end this."

Ice turned his head slightly to whisper to Motoko. "Can you fly on your own?"

Motoko nodded.

"Good. Continue looking for the door while I distract her." Ice shook Motoko off his back.

"Wait a minute!" Motoko protested.

Ice shook his head. "You've already had one brush with death today." He turned his attention on Star and formed his sword from one of his feathers. "You should be able to sense the door if you get close enough to it."

"But…" Motoko pulled her sword. "Enough! I'll fight her! You go look for the damn door!"

"No, you won't!" Ice yelled back.

Motoko took a swing at Ice with her blade. "Who said you get to decide what I do?"

Ice easily parried her attack. "I'm trying to protect you baka!"

"Who said I need your protection?!" Motoko attacked him again. "I can take care of myself!"

Star sweat dropped repeatedly as she watched Ice and Motoko fight. "Um, guys?"

Ice and Motoko both turned. "What?!"

Star back peddled a few steps. "N-nothing." She shook her head. "Wait a minute! Why am I on the defensive?"

Ice turned to Motoko. "And why are we fighting each other?"

Motoko blinked. "I don't know. You started it."

"Did not." Ice shook his head. "Let's not start this again." He glanced between the two women and smiled at Motoko. "Hey, you thinking what I'm thinking?"

Motoko looked at Star and grinned. She nodded.

Star sweat dropped again. "Nani?" She barely managed to dodge as Ice and Motoko combined their attacks. "Oh, that's real fair!"

Motoko charged again, but stopped suddenly as something grabbed her foot. "Ice? What are you doing?" She looked back to see a tendril of mist-like vapor wrapping around her ankle.

Ice was also having difficulty moving about as the mist began to bind his wings. He slashed the restraints with his sword but there was no noticeable change as he continued his unwilling descent.

"What are you two up to?"

Motoko was shocked to see Star also being restrained. "Us? I thought you were doing this."

"It's not me." Star insisted.

"Well, whatever it is I can't get free." Ice informed the others. "If you have any ideas on how to get out of here, do it now."

Motoko looked to where they were being pulled to. "Isn't this the way back to the city center?"

Ice looked around. "Yeah, it's taking us back the way we came exactly."

Star stared at the center circle as it came into view. "This can't be happening."

The amber that had made up Fria statue pulsed and began to take shape in a new form. It was into this door that the mist began to disappear

Ice smiled. "No wonder I couldn't sense it before." He pulled the small black key from his pocket. "Ok, so there's the door…" He scanned the amber door quickly. "But where's the key hole?"

Motoko also saw the door's missing element, but unlike Ice she could see where it had been removed too. "If you want to survive this, I suggest you put the keyhole back in place."

Star stuck her tongue out at Motoko. "I'm immortal, I'll survive regardless of if that door opens."

"Maybe." Ice nodded. "If you consider living like a bowl of Jell-O pleasing."

Star swallowed hard.

Ice nodded. "Unlike The Fates, you are physically confined. You may survive, but going through those little cracks can't be good for the complexion."

Star weighed the differences in her mind. "I can't allow you to further damage the realms. The door stays closed."

---

Kanako dug her feet into the soft Earth as she took a low offensive stance. "I may have taken the lives of everyone on Earth, but it was an accident, and I'm trying to fix it." She slowly lifted her eyes to meet Rider's. "What's your excuse for taking the life of the first and best friend I ever had?"

"I had not intended to kill the noble cat demon." Rider moved to adopt a middle defensive stance. "In truth, I admire his dedication to you, even simple minded as it was. His death was a noble one with pure intent. You needn't grieve for him, he will rest easy."

"He shouldn't be resting at all!" She stopped as she felt someone's hand on her shoulder. She turned and looked into Keitaro's eyes before looking away again quickly. "Let me go."

Keitaro shook his head. "You're to angry to fight him safely." He gently pulled her back.

Rider nodded and began to turn away. He stopped as a white feather shot past his ear and stuck into the metal door with a sharp ring.

"Where are you going?" Keitaro asked. "You hurt my friends. You hurt Kanako. You killed Kuro and Tama." He slowly took a fight stance that Seta had taught him during their stay in America. "I can't forgive you for all of that."

Rider looked back over his shoulder. "You wish to avenge them?"

"I wish to save them." Keitaro replied calmly.

Rider turned. "Noble, but futile." He mirrored Keitaro's stance. "No one has the power to give life to the dead."

"You keep saying that, but we've been told that there are people who can." Keitaro began to gather his strength for the coming attacks. "There has to be a way."

Rider smiled a small, knowing, smile. "There are people who can provide an opportunity for rebirth, but no one can give life to the dead."

Keitaro paused. Rider was contradiction himself with his own words. The Attendant had said their actions were futile since they had met him in the city, but now there was a chance? "Something doesn't make sense here." Keitaro thought as Rider charged him. He blocked the Attendant's roundhouse kick and countered with an open hand strike to his chest. Keitaro shivered as Rider continued to smiled at him.

"I can see the wheels spinning in your head half-ling." Rider spun and back-handed Keitaro with a closed fist. "You seek a way to unite the broken world for the woman you love." He brought his fist down into the dirt only a moment after Keitaro managed to roll out of the way. "So sad that you do not have that power."

Keitaro scrambled to his feet and with a flap of his wings took to the sky. He frowned as he heard a sharp whistle. He didn't have to look back to know that Rider and Ginryuu now pursued him. "The way he stresses certain words…is he trying to tell me something?" He shook his head. "No, Rider is the enemy. He wouldn't help me." He flew higher and doubled back with a double loop to land on Ginryuu. He wrapped his hands around Rider's throat from behind. "Open the door!"

Rider grinned as he spoke through the choke hold. "I bet you thing you have the upper hand here don't you?"

Keitaro was forced to release his grip as he felt the cold sensation of the dragon's tail wrapping about his own throat. A moment later he was falling as Ginryuu threw him off. Keitaro quickly ascended again and the two fighters faced off again. "He could have killed me just now." Keitaro silently realized. "A snapped neck, or just a good tug and it would have been over. What's he waiting for?"

(break)

Kanako watched as Keitaro and Rider traded blows in the sky above her. She wanted to go to his aid. In her mind she knew that she should be the one fighting Rider, or at least assist Keitaro, but instinct told her that she had other work to do yet. Taking one last look at Keitaro and ran toward the door.

She traced her fingers over the door looking for anything that could lead to a clue to opening it. She quickly found that there was no such hint. Her eyes grew red and her fangs grew longer as her anger grew. "Screw it, I'll just break it down." She raised her fist and summoned her magic in preparation for the strike.

The door shivered and opened a crack.

Kanako blinked in shock and released her concentration on the magic. "I did…"

The door slammed shut again.

"It." Kanako ran her hands over the door again franticly. "Did I hit hidden button or something before maybe?" She found nothing. "Maybe I just unlocked it?" She tugged on the handles to test them. The door with the demon-woman engraved on it didn't move at all, but the one with carving of the male angel responded slightly. Kanako smiled. "Not much, but it's a start."

She pulled harder on the door that was able to open, but found that it would not widen any more. "Knew it wouldn't be that easy." Her attention shifted as a glow above her intensified. "Keitaro's warning shot." She reached up toward the feather and pulled it out from where it rested above the angel's carved head. She nearly fell as the door opened more under her grip. "I wonder…" She took Keitaro's feather and stabbed it into the door with the demon carving. With a nervous swallow she tugged on the still closed door. "Yes!" The door opened a bit, but nowhere near enough to let her and Keitaro through. She nearly screamed as Keitaro crashed into the trees behind her. The door momentarily forgotten, she rushed to his side.

Keitaro looked up at Kanako thought bruised eyes. Blood from a cut in his forehead ran into his eyes and further obscured his vision. He could feel the broken bones in his arm, the ribs, and his back. He smiled at Kanako despite all these injuries since he could also feel the wounds knitting back together thanks to his angel born abilities. He smiled at her.

Kanako held him close as she felt the tears well up in the corners of her eyes. "I'm so sorry onii-chan. You shouldn't have to deal with all this pain because of me." Behind her she heard the crunching of dead leaves. "Leave us alone Rider."

"I'm afraid that I can no longer do that." Rider brought his hand to his mouth. He looked up and made a gesture to Ginryuu as the large dragon responded to the summoning whistle. A moment later a large dragon fang struck the ground and Ginryuu flew off. "You have forced my hand." He lay his hand upon the dragon fang, causing it to transform into a large broad sword whose curved shape allowed it to maintain it's tooth-like appearance. "May you both rest peacefully."

In a last ditch effort Kanako threw herself at Rider once again. She snarled in anger and allowed the demon within her soul to be free. Her finger nails grew out and formed claws every bit as sharp as the sword that Rider had drawn. She used these new found weapons to strike Rider.

The attendant barely raised the sword in time to block the razor sharp claws and was forced to step back from the force of Kanako's blow. "You are making this quite difficult." Rider released his grip on the sword and turned into a spin. As Kanako rushed him again he took the sword up in a reversed overhand grip and brace the blade against his forearm. He ducked as he completed the spin and slammed the flat of the blade into Kanako's exposed abdomen.

Kanako could not raise her defenses in time and rocketed backwards as her body absorbed the full-force of the blow. She landed hard on her back beside Keitaro. "Onii-chan…" She stopped as she felt Keitaro's finger on her lips.

"I thought I told you." Keitaro rolled over, as his injuries were not yet healed enough to let him sit or stand upright, to face Kanako. "No more onii-chan."

Rider walked over and raised his sword high. "I am sorry. I had hoped things would end differently."

Kanako tried to stand, but found she couldn't. Tears began to fall from her eyes one final time as she realized that their time was coming to an end. She reached up and entwined her fingers with Keitaro's. "Aishiteru Keitaro."

"Aishiteru Kanako." Keitaro responded.

No sooner were the words then dark energy began to race down Kanako's arm. At the same moment light energy began to travel down Keitaro's arm. The two magics collided with one another at the juncture formed by the lovers joined hands with astonishing results. Light and dark intertwined and, with no where else to turn for release, spiraled out towards the slack-jawed attendant.

Rider braced his sword against his palm and attempted to divert the blast away from him. "This is impossible…"

Kanako slowly sat up, but dared not release Keitaro's grip. "This is…"

"This is what Ice and Lillith used to follow Naru through the gateway." Keitaro realized as he too sat up.

Rider was forced back until his back was pressed against the gray double doors. "Mana…" He pushed against the Mana Blast and managed to gain a small amount of ground.

Kanako began to stand and pushed more demonic magic down to her palm. "We have to push harder!"

"Hai!" Keitaro stood. "Now!" He forced more energy down his arm and into the Mana Blast.

Rider stood firm against the attack for only a moment as the intensified energies began to boil the water beneath his feet and the gateway doors. He tried to take another step forward, but the moment he lost his footing he was hurled back against the doors. He hit much harder this time and jarred the door open allowing the mist of the evaporated water to pass through to realms unknown.

"Now!" Kanako and Keitaro yelled together as they put everything they had into the final attack. Their attack forced Rider back further and the doors opened fully to allow Rider entry.

Rider maintained the position to prevent the explosive blast from entering the realm paths. A tinkling of glass was heard momentarily as Rider's sunglasses shattered.

(break)

Naru turned as she felt something on her should. "What are you doing here?"

Haruka smiled. "Had a feeling that you'd try something like this." She dropped her cigarette and ground it beneath her heel. "I see you've made us solid again."

Sarah reached out her hand and found she could part the mists swirling around them. "But why make us solid unless…"

A small piece of blue glass fell to the ground. "It's time for you to go home."

The three women began to shimmer, before the glow faded.

Haruka blinked. "She won't let me go."

"Naru won't release me either." Naru nodded.

Sarah glowed again for a moment. "Let go of me dummy!"

The man smiled. "You're all going a part of one another. You're all going home." He made a fast gesture and the mists began to wrap around the women. "Have fun."

The women smiled and nodded.

(break)

Lillith fought at the bonds that held her. "Let go!"

"Cover your eyes!" Shinobu yelled. "Something's happening."

Kitsune shifted her tails to protect not only herself, but Kaolla and Lillith as well. "What's happening?"

Suddenly the door bust open and sucked everyone into the shining abyss.

(break)

The crystal keyhole shot through Star's pocket fabric and completed the door. "What the hell?"

Ice felt the tug of the black key in his hand and let it go. "I've got no idea what could happen, but…" He gave Motoko's hand a gentle squeeze.

Motoko returned Ice's gesture. "What ever awaits…"

"Hello!" Star yelled. "Inevitable death coming real fast!"

"What are you worried about?" Ice teased as they were pulled into the crystalline maw. "Aren't you immortal?"

(break)

Kanako stared as the Attendant let his sunglasses fall away and be sucked into the gray maelstrom behind him. "I don't understand!" The wind kicked up and began to pulled Rider, Keitaro, and herself into the portal further. She gasped as Rider released his defense and let the blast consume him.

The Mana Blast disappeared into the swirling center of the gray storm. For a time there was no change. Then the storm began to convulse as though it were a living thing in agony. It filled with pressure and then bulged out just before exploding with a force immeasurable by any standards.

Kanako raised her arms in front of her face as the shockwave came toward her. However, a moment before it reached her time seemed to slow.

"Aren't you immortal?"

Kanako looked over her guard. "Ice?"

"Whatever awaits."

Kanako looked around, searching for the face to match the voice. "Motoko?"

"Cover your eyes!"

Kanako's eyes darted around hastily. "Shinobu?"

"Let go!"

"Lillith?"

"You're all going home."

Kanako turned to see Rider hovering a short distance away. "What do you mean?"

Rider smiled and gestured to the shockwave. His eyes now at last revealed were a deep, soft, brown, much like Keitaro's. Without out the sunglasses to give the image of an uncaring enforcer, Kanako could see that the Attendant was, at heart, quite gentle. "You planed this all along, didn't you?"

Rider smiled and nodded as the shockwave began to move again. "One day you will understand all that occurred, but not today. It is time for you to go."

Kanako watched as the shockwave began to move again. Except this time, it moved away from her. "Please, tell me."

Rider shook his head. "I can not. It is not yet time. Just know that you and Keitaro have started a great journey that will have incredible consequences."

"Incredible?" Kanako began to feel something pulling on her. She glanced sideway and saw that the explosive storm was now collapsing in on itself and taking everything else with it. "Will it be good or bad?"

"It is too soon." Rider motioned again and saw that Kanako fought against the increased gravity. "Should you remember any of this, ask your Aunt. She may tell you what I can not."

"Remember?" Kanako's face went pale and tears began to fall from her eyes. "No! You can't make me forget! Not after…" She stopped as she felt Rider's hand on her cheek.

"You needn't worry. You have found your place, I wouldn't make you forget something such as that, even I had the power to do so." As Rider pulled his hand away time began to move normally.

Kanako fought the massive pull of the black hole. "But what if we're attacked again?!"

Rider smiled. "You are not my creations, but I have taken a liking to you. I will see to it that you are not disturbed again, and I will keep an eye out for you." He raised his hand to Kanako. "Till the next, live well."

Kanako felt the gentle, but unyielding force press against her and knew instantly what Rider had done. She turned her head as she fell into eternity and saw Keitaro falling beside her. She reached out and took his hand as the gray mists of the black hole surrounded them both.

(break)

Naru sat in the Hinata Tea Shop and lazily sipped at her coffee. "You know what do day is right?"

Sarah looked up from her algebra homework. "Nani?"

Haruka smiled. "Yeah, hard to believe that a year has passed."

"How did that idiot Rider pull this off anyway?" Sarah asked as she sipped her hot coco. "I thought world like this couldn't be revived."

"They can't." Naru stated as she looked over her young student's answer sheet and made a few marks. "You need to study more."

"Shut up!" Sarah snatched her paper away. "And don't change the subject!"

"Haven't you ever wondered about the Mana Blast?" Haruka asked slyly.

Sarah twirled her pencil uninterested. "What about it? It's an ultra powerful weapon that can destroy everything in it's path. So what?"

Naru nodded. "It's true that it can be used as such a weapon, but that isn't the true form it was meant for."

Sarah blinked. "True form?"

"This is why we train Fates every few life times." Haruka chuckled. "How is the Mana Blast formed?"

Sarah thought about it for a moment. "The union of light and dark magic mixes in un uncontrolled form, destabilizes and explodes."

"Yes, when it is performed improperly." Naru handed Sarah a new self-test sheet. "Try again."

"Improperly?" Sarah tested a few equations in silence for a time before slamming her pencil to the table. "No way!"

Haruka smiled as the idea sunk in. "Mana was originally Manah, the life providing substance that was provided by god during the Hebrew exodus. The true essence of the Mana blast is to create, not destroy."

Sarah rested her head in her hands. "Then Rider goaded those two baka into fire a Mana Blast into the pathways."

Naru shook her head. "He was trying, but the blast they created didn't occur from conscious act. Their blast into the primordial storm allowed for the formation of a new vessel for the Earth to be reborn into."

Haruka pulled out a cigarette and lighter. "It is true that no one person has the power to return life to the dead, but the right combination of two people can provide the opportunity for rebirth. Such is the cycle, life, death, rebirth. Kanako and Keitaro discovered that without even realizing it. Their pure union my one day lead to the realms uniting into one kingdom again. After all, the bloodlines have already been forever mixed now."

Sarah groaned. "Enough with the goody-goody lovey crap."

Haruka smiled. "Give it a few years, you'll change your feelings about the subject."

"Speaking of change," Naru looked out the window and smiled as Tama-chan and Kuro flew in love struck circles around each other. "Where is everyone else?"

(break)

Kitsune, Kaolla, and Shinobu sat around the food court table at the mall.

Kitsune pointed to one of the boys that walked past. "What about him? Boxers?"

"No." Shinobu took a sip of her soda and rubbed at her temple. "Briefs, I think."

Kaolla pulled out a pair of glasses and looked at the boy in question. "Shinobu wins again!" She put the glasses down. "How do you do that? It's like you have ESP or something."

Kitsune nodded. "Yeah, or something."

Shinobu shrugged. "I don't know how I do it, but…" She stopped as a woman with long black hair and pale skin passed by. Shinobu stood and circled in front of the woman. "Sumimasen? Have we met before?"

The woman turned. "I don't think so. I only just move to Hinata recently. I don't know anyone here yet, perhaps we could become friends?"

Kitsune pulled an extra chair over to the table. "Sure, why not?"

Kaolla offered their new friend some of her fries. "So why'd you move to Hinata?"

The young woman smiled. "Well, the sunsets here are just so beautiful."

(break)

"Aoyama-san!"

Motoko turned. "Hai Himura-sensei!"

The red-haired instructor walked up slowly. "We have a new student joining us today. He has studied western-style fencing in England and has transferred here to learn the art of Kendo now. I would like for you to be his mentor. Is that acceptable?"

Motoko nodded. "Of course. If he has some skill with a sword already, it should be simple to bring him up to an acceptable level for the other students."

The teacher smiled. "That is excellent, that it is." He motioned for the new student to enter the dojo.

Motoko studied the tall, silver haired boy with interest. He was dressed in a gi and hakhama, both were pale brown, almost amber, in color.

The boy bowed to Motoko as the instructor left. "Sensei tells me that you are the most skilled fighter here, I hope I am able to meet with your approval."

Motoko nodded. "Of that I have no doubt." She paused. "I have the strangest feeling that we have met before."

The boy shook his head. "I do not think so. Perhaps in another life."

Motoko nodded and introduced herself. "Some of the other students call me by my last name since I also help with instruction from time to time, but you may call me Motoko if you wish."

"I would like that." The boy bowed again. "My name is Metatron…" He grinned sheepishly as Motoko tried to suppress a small laugh. "Yeah, it is kind of a goofy name, my parents have a strange sense of humor. Most people just call me Meta now."

Motoko nodded. "Then that is what I'll call you too. Now, shall we begin the lesson." She handed a shinai to Meta and was surprised to see how comfortable he held it.

"Yes." Meta nodded. "There is so much I hope to learn here in Hinata City."

(break)

Kanako gently lay her baby down into the cradle and readjusted her blouse. "You were hungry today weren't you?" She leaned against the cradle and watched as her child fell asleep. She lay down on her futon next to Keitaro once the baby was asleep. "Keitaro? What's that?"

Keitaro over at the kotatsu and found a pair of blue frosted sunglasses resting there. "I thought they where yours."

Kanako shook her head. "No, I thought they where yours." She lay her head against her husbands shoulder. "Maybe one of the girls left them in here by mistake?" She yawned and began drifting off to sleep. "You get to watch him to night."

Keitaro laughed and gently stroked his wife's back. "Hai, get so rest now." He waited until he was sure that both Kanako and their son were both fast asleep before he to dozed off.

In the crib the young infant stretched in his sleep. To the untrained eye nothing would be seen. Yet if you knew what to looked for, or had even the vaguest gift of sight a brief change would have been visible. The momentary growth of black horns on the child's forehead, and the instantaneous flash of white wings on his back. His stretch completed the child returned to his peaceful slumber.

The End

Wraiths: Aww, such a sweet ending image of Kanako. (Grumbling) It should be me in Keitaro's place…(normal voice) But wonderful none the less.

Star: I love it!

Rider: (sitting with his hands in bowls of ice) I think broke my fingers writing so much. Anyway, that finishes it out. So what do you all think? I would like to here what you have to say about this so leave a message if you wish. And, no promises, but I'll try to start a new project soon and keep more regular updates in the future.

Wraiths: Later people.

Star: Bye! Bye!

Rider: Till the next, live well all.