A/N: You know the disclaimer, you know that I'm going to finish this. More of the same. Reviews, reviews, please! Sorry if there are mistakes- I haven't proofread this yet.

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When Gorran woke the next morning, his sister was gone, the blankets still showing the indentation of where she had lain during the night. He yawned and sat up, rubbing his eyes with his fists, then placed his hand on the place where Lecia had slept. The fabric was cool beneath his touch, and he knew that she must have left before dawn. He felt sadness well up inside him, for he had seen his sister every day since he was born, and now he hardly ever saw her. He liked Gourry and his family well enough, but he knew that without Kerra, he would have missed Lecia so much it would have been hard for him to get up in the morning.

Slipping out of bed, he pulled on his clothes and trotted downstairs, to where he could smell Sylphiel cooking breakfast. Her daughters were clustered around her, shuttling ingredients and dishes to and fro, but Kerra was nowhere in sight. Gorran sighed as he realized she was probably still asleep. That girl slept in almost as much as his mother did. Good morning, he said as he entered the room.

Sylphiel turned her torso to look at him, and the older girls did the same. It struck him as almost eerie, how alike the mother and daughters were, sending shivers up his spine. Oh, good morning, she chirped, mixing some sort of batter in a huge bowl with a worn wooden spoon. Did you sleep well?

Gorran nodded absently, not really listening since she asked the same question every morning. He really had slept well the night before, though, since Lecia had been near. He just felt safer when she was around. He didn't think that even Gourry's sword would be able to save them, and Sylphiel wouldn't be much help in the offense, either, if Monsters showed up to take him. Sometimes he still had nightmares about the thing that had taken his father away. Lecia, on the other hand, was just as strong, if not stronger, than their parents, and he knew she would never let anything happen to him, just as he would never let anything happen to her.

Sylphiel, however, was still talking to him as he was lost in thought. -And Gourry dear is still outside, so breakfast won't be for another half an hour, I'm afraid, he caught her saying.

Oh, all right, he replied, and shuffled out the door.

The sunlight blasted into his face as he walked out on the lawn, powerful for so early in the morning and promising a very warm day. Blinking, he wandered to the practice area, leaning on the fence and resting his chin on the top rail as he watched the tall, blonde man move through his forms, the sunlight licking down the blade of the sword as it moved through the air. He admired the man's strength and skill, and he loved it when Mister Zelgadis would come and practice as well. Fantasies flitted through his mind as he watched Gourry practice, wondering if someday he would be as talented with a blade. If he could master the sword and add magic to his style, he would be a force to be reckoned with.

Well, hello there, he heard someone say, and looked up into Gourry's smiling face.

Good morning, Gorran replied. Despite Lecia's warnings, he could not help but like the man. Breakfast isn't for a little while yet.

Gourry shaded his eyes and looked up into the sky. Yes, Sylphiel has her hands full with us, he replied. Say, how do your hands feel?

Gorran looked down at his palms, which were slightly red from the day before. There were no blisters, though, and he knew he would eventually get callouses. They're fine. A little hot, but they're fine.

Gourry nodded. Okay, then, I'm going to show you again what I showed you yesterday. Just watch and try to memorize it as you see it, so you can recreate it in your own body later.

Gorran watched as Gourry moved through some forms again, watching him intently and completely losing track of time. He was completely absorbed in Gourry's movement, scrutinizing every turn of the wrist and hips, and was startled when he was tackled from behind. someone crowed, and he rolled over to see Kerra straddling him triumphantly.

Not fair! Gorran growled, standing up and getting ready to launch a counterattack.

Is too, she laughed. How are you ever going to be a great protector if you let someone sneak up on you so easily? If it's that easy to get in under your guard, you won't live to see twenty!

It's not like you're that good, Gorran snorted.

Kerra stuck out her tongue at him. Am so. I'm better with a sword than Rodimus.

Gorran sighed, the fight leaking out of him. Well, that's true.

Gourry came over to them, chuckling as he brushed dirt and grass off of Gorran's backside. That's because Rodimus is an axe man, he explained. Everybody has a different weapon that suits them best, and some don't do well with weapons at all.

That's right, Kerra said. My mom is better with her fists than a weapon, and Mister Xellos is good with his hands, too. And he fights with a staff. My dad and Miss Lina are better with swords.

Gorran's face fell at the mention of his parents, and he noticed Kerra's face screw up in alarm. Gorran swallowed the lump that was rising in his throat and quickly looked at Gourry, trying to distract himself. Gourry's expression, however, had darkened, his light blue eyes looking almost grey as he gazed off into space. Gorran mumbled, trying to relieve himself of his anxiety.

I'm so sorry, Kerra whispered, reaching out and giving him a hug.

one of the girls called from the house, and the tension in the air crumbled. Gourry turned to the children and flashed them a brilliant smile, the skin crinkling around his sky-blue eyes.

Hope you like leftovers, he told the children, and began to dash towards the house.

Gorran and Kerra stared openmouthed at the man, gaping at his long strides as he ran. Oh no! Kerra gasped. He'll get all the food and there won't be any left!

Gorran scowled. Not if I can help it, he said with an evil smile, and quickly recited a spell. Gourry whooped in surprise as a band of light appeared round his ankles and caused him to fall face-first in the grass. Come on! Gorran said to Kerra, grabbing her hand and taking to the air. They sped toward the house, passing over Gourry as he struggled to stand with his feet bound together.

Hope you like leftovers! Kerra called out, and they landed lightly on the back stoop. Gourry howled and began to hop toward them, but his pace was agonizingly slow, bound as he was. Laughing, Gorran cancelled the spell and went inside with Kerra to get breakfast.

The weeks bled into months, the days filled with practicing the sword with Kerra and Gourry and magic lessons with Lecia, when she had time to visit, and and with Sylphiel. Kerra didn't have the knack for the black magic Lecia taught them on her moonlight visits, and Gorran only had marginal success, but he found he excelled at the shamanistic magic that Lecia passed on to them from her lessons with Zelgadis. Kerra was picking up white magic from Sylphiel at a much greater rate than Gorran, but he was finding white magic was easier for him than black, just as it always had been. Sometimes he found himself eager to go home and ask Aunt Filia for more lessons. She had been a dragon priestess, after all, and knew some wonderfully powerful ancient spells.

In the evenings he would sit and quietly play games with Kerra or read from textbooks. Sometimes, before bed, he and Kerra would sit on the bench in front of the big window in the kitchen, looking out at the practice yards and quietly talking. He liked spending time with Kerra; she was almost as good with a sword as he was, and she was smart and funny. Being with her made him forget how much he missed his family, and he was glad to have her as a best friend.

He was practicing with Kerra one evening under Gourry's watchful eye, so intent on not getting hit by her wooden blade that he didn't have time to wonder where his parents were. No wasted movement! Gourry barked, lines appearing on his forehead, and Gorran glanced away from Kerra for a moment, only to feel the wood of her sword against his neck a moment later.

Kerra mumbled, deep blue eyes looking straight into his own.

You looked away, Gourry rumbled, shaking his head at Gorran. Never take your eyes off your opponent, even when I'm talking to you.

Gorran felt anger at being scolded flare up within him. It's not my fault! he said sharply. You were talking to me, and you didn't tell me not to look at you!

Even so, Gourry said. This is battle. This is to save your life. It should demand your entire attention.

Gorran's rage flared higher, but unlike his mother, it flickered and died as he realized his teacher was right. I'm sorry, he grumbled, his amethyst eyes burning with desire to do better.

Gourry nodded. That's why we practice. As for you, Kerra, even though you won, you left yourself wide open several times. If Gorran was just a little more experienced than he is, you would have died many times over.

Kerra's cheeks flushed, but she merely nodded. Will you watch us do it again?

Of course, Gourry began, but was interrupted by a dark shadow passing overhead. The two children flocked to Gourry as the gigantic darkness spread over them, Gourry's hand immediately flying to his sword as he stepped in front of the children. The three of them looked up into the sunset, the blood reds and oranges of the sky seemingly made all the richer because of the moving black object. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up and realized that Kerra was readying a spell, and so Gorran readied one as well. Whatever the thing in the sky was, it was the biggest creature he had ever seen. It was easily as large as the manor house behind them.

What is it? Kerra breathed, the tone of her voice high and strained.

I don't know, Gourry replied, fingers flexing around his sword, which remained in the sheath. Get ready to run into the house.

Gorran narrowed his eyes at the shadow circling them. I'm not going to run, he growled, and let loose his strongest spell, an amplified flare arrow. The air crackled as the power blasted away from his body, the beam of energy heading straight for the thing in the sky. The bolt had almost reached its target when suddenly the air around the shadow shimmered and an explosion sounded throughout the air, the kickback making his chest vibrate. A horrible screech sounded from the shadow, and they saw its huge form rocketing out of the smoke straight towards them.

Uh oh, Gorran said, and turned to run.