Old Friends Reunite

Kagetsu woke up in the bed in Tiara's house; it was closer than his own. Teefa had put a cold compress on his forehead, and was standing in the room with Amber and Lufia. Rooks and Max had taken Donnie into the kitchen, just so he wouldn't scare the guy again. Sophie was downstairs with the boys, nervous over her husband's condition, and Sky and Alan were sleeping. Amber wanted to help as best she could; she was able to Neutralize some of the energy that had risen in her father. You see, in addition to seeing Donnie and being surprised, some of the latent energy from the dead Mihan Demons still lit up the air. It had begun to cause him pain, so Amber had taken it away while Teefa and Lufia did their work. Although not having powers to heal wounds like their Partners, the girls knew a thing or two about first aid.

"Thank you," he said, "I just was in shock. That boy, he's your brother, right Teefa? Well, he resembles a man I knew a long time ago. He was the Partner of my girlfriend, but I killed him in a duel while she was performing in the Festival of Wind. I could not face her, so after awhile I went up into the mountains to think. There, I met Sophie and had Amber. Just seeing that face on another, I felt a ghost had risen up from the past. That man had the same power that Amber pointed out that young Donnie possesses." He purposely left out the whole reason the duel began, and how he'd been a fugitive for about a month. The Elder hadn't let the news get too widespread, Tiara and Lena being the only Magic Users told about it at all.

"You don't have to apologize, and you don't have to gloss the story over. I know exactly who you are, and you should know that everyone else forgave you long ago. Mom and Aunt Lena were all worried about how you never came home from the mountains; the only thing they knew was that you had some sort of big secret. So they told Aunt Sara that they had a secret too, since things really had happened to them while you were gone, hoping to spark your curiosity. Guess it just took a long time to work," Teefa replied.

Kagetsu exclaimed, "You're Tiara's daughter! What a coincidence, to run into you now. But you look nothing like your mother, nor does your brother." His suspicions were beginning to grow, and fear filled his heart. Could it be, that Graham had really come back? What would happen to Kagetsu when they met?

Teefa could sense his fear, wishing emotions were just as easy to Neutralize as Mihan Energy. "I know I don't look like Mom or Dad, I think I resemble some great aunt somewhere or other. And I wouldn't worry about a thing, like I said before, everyone here forgave you long ago. You should hear their story."

"Well then, I guess you should know something else," Lufia began, "Just as Teefa is Tiara's child, I am Lena's. Our parents went out to track some Mihan it seems, we'll explain all about it to you and Sophie in a little while. Believe me, they are not to be trifled with. I'd watch myself if I were you, we nearly died in that fight. Teefa's quick thinking is what saved all of our lives, that and her powers of merging with Sky."

"I thought I recognized that voice. Kagetsu, it's been a long time. And Teefa, you have a lot of explaining to do. You should know better than to go out in the middle of a blizzard. The first time you were out it was because you were caught unawares on the way home. But walking out like that, is suicide," Tiara's voice rang from the stairs. Lena was right behind her, both happy to see Kagetsu, and looking at her daughter in a scolding tone. Both girls looked to one another, and then at their mothers, dejected.

Lena said, "As long as you're ok, that's all that matters. But I want you to promise that you will stay inside until the storm passes. I know you girls have your Youth Alliance work, but this is not a child's game. You can handle the little battles around when its clear out, but no more Ryami on a stormy day."

Kagetsu looked at his childhood friends. "Well, it's good to see you again. Now you know why I didn't come home. I had found happiness with Sophie. Here, I was only reminded of the trouble I caused and how I couldn't save Sara from her fate. Whenever I looked at Tiara, I was filled with the regret I had for killing Graham, even in self defense. I only wish things could have turned out differently back then."

"I am not mad at you for the battle," Graham told Kagetsu as he was coming up the stairs, "I am more angry at how much Tiara suffered as a result. But since I was killed, Tiara was chosen to become the Divine Sorceress. For in order to gain that honor, you must lose a Partner to death. Then, along with your new Partner, you traverse the Land of the Dead to save the first one. Now Tiara is much stronger, and was even able to take on the leader of all the Mihan Demons, causing her to be able to live a normal life instead of the demanding one that the past Divine Sorceresses were put through." When Kagetsu saw him, he felt a lump appear in his throat. Remember, he killed this man over twenty years ago. But hearing his story, and knowing that his life wasn't in any danger from the sometimes emotionally unstable Partner calmed him. The last thing that Kagetsu needed was a third duel with Graham, since Graham knew what he could do.

Leon walked up the stairs silently, and Japolo ran up the banister. The girls, seeing that it was going to get real serious, went downstairs to be with Donnie and their Partners. Teefa looked at her mother and father, and smiled. Finally, they could straighten up all of the problems that had occurred between them and Amber's father. Then, perhaps everyone could become friends like they were many years ago.

Tiara explained the full story of the Divine Sorceress, how she was an ageless guardian who protected the world from the Mihan. How when the stronger Mihan troubled them, she would call on a successor, and try to kill the Demon. And if the beast was too much for her, she sacrificed her life to win. Then, she spoke of how she was to become successor to Sienna, the last Divine Sorceress who just happened to also be a distant ancestor of Tiara's via her only daughter. But following the death of the Mihan Demon General, Ryultima, the Mihan became nothing more than destruction seeking beasts with no direction. Thus, her and Lena joined the coalition to protect the Guardian World. Now, their daughters wanted to help, even if it killed them. Tiara was as strict as she could be, not wanting her daughter to get herself hurt, but trying times called for all the help they could get. Thus, Teefa and Lufia's Youth Alliance.

"I don't mind if Amber wants to help, as you said these are trying times. Especially since you said that Teefa and Lufia are forbidden from the really big missions. It seems strange though. You told me that the brand of demon they fought in the forest only likes dark caves. Could the snow have called it out?" inquired Kagetsu. Tiara's new powers made him think, perhaps everything had been for the best after all.

Japolo stated, "I told you before Tiara, I believe the Mihan have something to do with the snow. There is an increase in Demon activity since it began to fall, and even the Ryami are out in full force. I now know for certain, in my heart, that they have something to do with it, if not being the exact cause of it."

Lena looked to Tiara, and sighed. "Whatever the case, we have to do something. If it is the Mihan, we have to stop them. If not, we have to clear out the enemy anyway. But we should also remember to be careful. Perhaps we should go right away, and try to kill off as many of the enemy as we are able to."

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Teefa's Last Words…

If you can't guess, there's gonna be trouble from this. Because my fics always equal trouble. Coming soon, Donnie tries to cast magic to help. A little fluff between Teefa and Rooks, as well as Lufia and Max. I'm a romantic fool. But the romance isn't real developed at this point; more like crushes. However, the sequel will feature some more substantial stuff.