Chapter Thirteen: Master Ajax of the Farfalla Temple

Miki walked along the hallways of the temple. He had just arrived and was told that he could find Ajax in the training room. Miki heard the loud grunts of the old man a few feet before he reached the entry way. He found the man finally hitting a punching bag twice then kicking it, then hitting it again. It was Ajax's routine out for the day. Miki leaned up against a pillar of the open door way with his arms crosses on his chest. He loved to stand on the side lines and watch his old master train. The feeling he got from it, would be like having a child watch a dancing performance for the first time. Mesmerized, every move he watched in awe. This was the art of any warrior. A great warrior.

Master Ajax was a man going on in his late 60's and still fit for his age. He stood close to six feet tall. He always stood straight and gave off a fierce demeanor, but once you got to know him, he had a heart of gold. His muscles stretched out, giving him a bird cage body (pretty much he a body like Arnold Schwarzenegger grins). The only thing that gave way to his age, was his face and hair. His face was oval shaped, his eyes were a deep chocolate brown, he had no expressions. His hair was a salt and pepper color, with shoulder length thick locks. He held his hair up in a half pony tail. He had sideburns that reached out and almost touched his thick beard, which matched his eyebrows, that was tied into a thin braid. The only wrinkles he had were on his forehead from thinking too much, and some around the crease of his lips, which he got from laughing so much at the "weak pathetic new comers of the decade"...or so he calls the newbies. His training clothes consisted of a black cotton robe with the sleeves ripped off, it was tied with a red belt with Latin inscriptions at the ends, matching black pants that were almost too loose for him. He had two white bandages wrapped around his wrist and up to his elbows. He wore no shoes or socks..just the way he liked it.

Miki noticed he got in a crouched position, his defensive position, and almost growled at the punching bag. Ajax stepped back a bit, still in his position, then jumped into the air, twirling, and giving the punching bag a swift kick; landing back on his feet. Miki smiled and stood up straight, then clapped his hands. Ajax stood straight at the sound and quickly turned to face the young captain. The older man smiled and walked over to his bag, he pulled out a towel and wrapped it around his neck.

"What do I owe to this visit, Captain?"

Ajax recovered from his tense training mood to friendly. He wrapped his sweaty arm around Miki's neck and had them walk out of the training room. Miki sighed.

"I need some answers."

"I can give you any answer in which my wisdom allows."

The two men walked until they came to the top of the stairs. Miki had Ajax turn around and stare down at the room before them. Ajax nodded as he stared at the butterfly design.

"Kumori, I presume."

"Master Ajax, I believe that my mother's soul is somehow confronting Kumori. How can this be?"

"Hmm..I do not know. Each host that the butterfly spirit possessed has never had such problems. The spirit is very strong and will hold until it is time. Although..."

Ajax trailed off, Miki caught onto his concern and glanced at him from the corner of his eye. The older man stayed quiet for a long moment. He lightly tugged on his braided beard in thought. Miki waited for him to come to a conclusion. Ajax grunted and then chuckled some what.

"How did you come to find out that her former soul was making contact with it's body?"

"Kumori has been acting strange lately. She closes herself up in her bed chambers. Stays in the dark. Talks to her...reflection..s..."

Ajax shot him a questioning look. Miki started to feel jumpy. Mast Ajax stayed calm unless there was something he knew he couldn't handle...and he could handle a lot. Miki reflected his look with a raised eye brow.

"You say..she talks to her reflection?"

"Reflections..apparently there is more than one. She has three mirrors styled to where she can be seen by them in the middle of the room."

"I see."

"What is it, Master?"

"This young woman is stronger than we thought."

"What is going to happen? I mean...if her soul is able to make some contact with her body...what will come of it?"

"What will come of it? Ha, I believe Kumori will have a competitor. No one has been able to control her the way this young woman has. With the rate is going, she may be able to reverse the ritual."

"Crap. That means that she won't be able to go against Red Beard."

"Tsk tsk tsk...I wouldn't say that."

"Huh?"

"You give your mother so little credit. I believe that is what was wrong with her in the first place. If she was given enough praise for her works in the past, she would be confident. Those who thought her as worthless and weak were wrong. I saw her strength long before I trained her."

"You did?"

"Yes. She needs to have faith in herself. She will mellow out to be the person she is meant to be. Give her time."

"We don't have time. We need to get Red Beard now. I can't have him reaching Earth."

Ajax sighed and went back into deep thought. Miki took another step forward so that he was side beside Ajax instead of behind him.

"There is got to be something you can do, Master Ajax."

"I could start having her come here in free time and meditate more. Although I think even that would be a disadvantage. Serena's soul could take that was a weakness and pull Kumori out. You forget that there is a thin line of magic holding Kumori in that body."

"Wh-"

Miki was interrupted by a beeping sound. He pulled out a compact disk and flipped it open. An image of a woman in a private ranking uniform appeared.

"What is it Sumi?"

"Captain, we've pinpointed Red Beard's location. We need you back here."

"I'm on my way."

Miki closed the compact and put it away. He turned to Ajax and grinned weakly.

"We may not need to worry after all."

"We may not. Good luck to you, Captain."

Miki nodded and extended his hand for the older man to take. With a quick shake, Miki teleported back to his ship. Ajax stared at the spot where he was at, then back at the butterfly design on the floor. He grunted at the commotion in his head as logic turned its ugly wheels.

"Something doesn't feel right."

Back on Miki's ship, people were rushing and working fast and hard enough to get things prepared. This was the closest that they would ever really get to Red Beard and needed to be ready for anything. Miki ran into Kumori on the way to the control room.

"Where were you?"

"Out."

"Smartass."

Miki smiled as he glanced back at his comrade. "Comes with the package."

Kumori let out a laugh as the jogged down the corridors. Miki took another glance at his friend and noticed that there was a certain ora about her. He shook his head having his mind distracted by the fact that they were gaining on Red Beard. They finally reached the door and waited for it to slide open. When it did, the two saw that it was just as busy in there than it was throughout the ship.

Miki walked over to his chair and Kumori stood behind him. The crew was shouting out locations, directions, number of distant, time etc, etc. Kumori laid a hand on Miki's shoulder and looked down at him with a smile. Miki concentrated on the screen ahead of him and nervously tapped his fingers on the arms of his chair. So close to Red Beard...so close.

AN: Sorry it took so long to type up..it was hell writing this chapter. I love the ideas you are giving me..don't worry I'll try not to disappoint you in the next few chapters. Just to remind you..I only have maybe...seven chapters left until I'm finished. I've got a really good idea what's going to happen. Grins and laughs evilly Hahahah! cough..hehe..Sorry about that.