He Found Us?

They kept heading south hoping beyond hope to find Cinderbird soon, each day that passed revealed more hardships of the worlds people and more enemy control. Four days had past since the night Aaka and Armaoq had revealed themselves yet the tension between group members refused to disperse. Holly was in her and Genki's room reading, thinking about the bible's words. Genki had taken to making her tea to help with her morning sickness, it worked to some degree, and he now entered with a fresh cup and sat it on the table next to her. Then took a seat near her to drink his tea. They had lucked out and found and abandoned hotel to stay in this night, which they all found to be a wonderful change. Holly went to turn the page only to find a map instead.

"Congratulations you finished." He commented drinking his tea. Many nights he had worked with her helping her to understand the words she read. Setting the book down she picked up her tea,

"Its good to finally be done. I've never read so much in my life." She sipped her tea. He raised a brow in wonder but said nothing. "Genki what is your novel about?" he blinked,

"Well it's about a fallen magical empires and the humans made into creatures by magic, who are trying to stop and evil from the past from destroying the world." She smiled to him,

"Sounds interesting."

"It is, you can read it if you like."

"I may just take you up on that offer." She finished her tea and motioned him to the bed. Curious he got ready for bed and climbed in with her. She lay back into his arms resting against him; with a smile he wrapped his arms around her his hand resting on hers.

"Is something wrong love?" she sighed,

"Yes, I've been thinking on the words of the bible a lot." She could feel his pulse rise slightly. * This must mean a lot to him * "Some things in there seemed farfetched…but I have thought them over carefully." She paused and felt his pulse quicken again. She looked back into his eyes seeing them filled with anticipation of her answer. "I've decided after much consideration to convert to Christianity." He hugged her tightly leaning to whisper,

"Thank you Holly, I'm overjoyed that I have helped you see the truth." She shifted in his arms, gazing into his gentle eyes with a smile on her face.

"I'm glad I listened to your words love."

"They were not mine but the Lord using my voice as his tool."

"Of course love." She kissed him softly, "I vow to be submissive to you as it is written." He smiled lovingly to her.

"And I will vow to always be respectful, to honor and cherish you, and be loving to you. To never purposely hurt you love." He returned the kiss with a loving one of his own, she held him there letting her love flow through her lips to him. His love flowed to her in return; when the kiss was broken she cuddled with him as he smiled down at her. "Hol I'm very blessed to have you as my wife to be. I'd be in some real trouble or dead if not for you." She giggled,

"You're not that bad off yet love, you'd survive."

"Holly have you prayed for your redemption in faith yet?" she paused a moment,

"No, not yet…I'm not sure how to…. I'm not very good with prayer."

"You don't have to be…would you like some help?" she nodded, her hands shaking, he pulled her close. "Easy, Holly just relax there's nothing to be afraid of."

"I'm just afraid I won't be good enough. That I won't be forgiven and saved." Her voice quivered as she spoke, he hugged her tight whispering,

"Holly, if you ask and mean it then you shall receive salvation." His words came calm and soothing to her ears. Looking up into his auburn eyes she saw his confidence in her.

"Tell me how and I will pray."

"Well ask for forgiveness of the sins you know you have committed, thank the Lord for coming to earth, and shedding his blood to wash your sins away. Tell him you receive him as your Lord and savior, to come into your heart to guide you. That you pray that in his Holy name, and always end your prayers with Amen." She nodded and closed her eyes folding her hands. As she prayed Genki himself prayed in his mind that she be given the strength to stay true to her new religion and kept from temptation. He then rested next to her until she finished; smiling to her softly he kissed her forehead hugging her close.

"Genki I feel different now." He chuckled,

"You should, but do you like this new feeling?" she nodded,

"I feel so much lighter, like I dropped a heavy weight or something."

"You did, sins can weigh heavy on ones heart with guilt, lust, pain, sorrow, confusion, and so on. Your free from that now love." She cuddled with him smiling; soon she drifted off in his arms. Sighing contently Genki allowed himself to sleep now too. He felt his own weight of worry disappear with the knowledge that she was safe in heaven.

Dianna and Hasuka lay together content just to be next to each other. Dianna had felt many powerful surges of emotion over the last few days; emotions that she couldn't explain and had trouble holding back. * I wish I knew why my emotions are rising. Each day that passed it becomes harder to control them. I might lose control soon if this keeps up. *

"Hasuka?"

"Yeah?"

"Whenever I'm with you I get emotional…do you know why?" he looked her finding her question an interesting one.

"I can't say for sure but maybe your feeling love. Love is a powerful emotion, and it does change people to a degree." She pondered on this for a moment.

"I was trained to show no emotion…"

"You will always feel it though and love is not an easy emotion to control, if it can be controlled. If you wish to avoid an emotional outbreak maybe your should show emotion only around me. I will tell no one of it." She shifted in his arms looking into his eyes for any signs she could find.

"Do you wish me to show emotion?" her voice monotone but he could tell by her face what she was feeling.

"I would like you too yes, but that is your choice. Remember emotion is not a weakness it is a strength." She snuggled closer to him seeking comfort.

"Even as a child I was not allowed to show emotion. My father said it was a weakness, especially in women…"

"It's not. It can be but it can also be a great strength. It all depends on the person and how they use it. Just look at Genki and how great of a fighter he is when he feels emotion." She nodded slowly falling asleep in his arms thinking on this. He closed his eyes happy to see that she was feeling emotion again. * You'll show emotion again, Dianna, I know it. * He gave way to the darkness as well.

In the morning Genki found Holly in the bathroom heaving again, tears running down her face. He held her from behind whispering.

"It's alright I'll pass soon I promise."

"I wish it'd pass now…" she threw up again.

"Shh… I know love I know. If I could do this for you I would." She nodded heaving again, knowing if he could he would carry the child for her. Finally, she felt her body relax inside, she was done heaving for now but she knew it'd return again. Genki gave her a washcloth urging her not to make and sudden movements. After she cleaned her face off she leaned back against Genki, whom automatically held her. Her hand came to rest on her womb as she thought silently, with a smile he place his hand on hers softly.

"There are times when I wonder is baring a child is worth all this." Kissing her cheek he uttered,

"Its worth it love, other wise women wouldn't want more then one." She giggled at the thought.

"I guess you are right." She rested with him still weary from her body's disobedience of the morning. She thought about their child and their life together after this war was over, his hand squeezed hers softly.

"Holly, what would you like to name our child? He whispered to her softly, she looked up into his gentle brown eyes.

"I'm not sure yet," she thought a moment, "maybe you should name him or her." He shook his head.

"No, we should do it together though I believe it really should be your choice for all you are going through." She smiled sweetly to him.

"You're such a gentleman Genki, always so kind and caring to me."

"That's because I love you so much, I never want to risk hurting you." Leaning back she caught his lips with her own, when she broke the kiss she slowly began to stand. He made sure she was all right, even though she waved his concern off. She walked out of the bathroom to change. Her stone suddenly began to glow while she was changing.

"Genki look the magic stone." He took it in his hands quickly synchronizing with its power. He saw Cinderbird approaching them with the final two stones around his neck. Using his power he energized Holly's stone as he did the others so he'd be in harmony with Cinderbird when he put the stone on.

"Looks like Cinderbird found us."

…Genki meet us on the Roof'… Aaka commanded.

"We need to go to the roof. Holly I have a feeling you'll be trading stones. You have his stone after all." Holly had just pulled her uniform on and looked over at him.

"My grandfather gave me this stone…."

"I know but unless he has his stone he won't have his full power when facing Mu. Maybe we can work out a deal."

"I hope so…" he nodded taking her hand they walked towards the roof.

On the roof Aaka and Armaoq already were waiting. Cinderbird gracefully landed before them. He was a large handsome man in his lower 30's, broad shoulders, strong jaw, short black and blond hair in a buzz cut of sorts. His blue eyes were focused intently on them. He wore a deep red t-shirt, blue jeans, and a black trench coat that was left unbuttoned in the front. Genki and Holly appeared out of a doorway and walked over to stand with their companions. Their visitor's eyes fixed on Holly's stone for a moment then on Genki's brown eyes.

"So four phoenixes have been awakened. You Blue Phoenix have my stone but I also have your stone and golden phoenix's stone."

"Cinderbird there is something we need to discuss."

"What is it Phoenix" his voice bland. Noting that he did not go by human names he spoke forwardly.

"I have been speaking with Blue Phoenix, before she knew of her essence of the Blue Phoenix she was the stone by her grandfather. Her village protected your stone. She has cherished her grandfather's gift for 14 years, it means much to her. I have been asked if after the war is over and peace is reinstated if she may have it back." Genki saw recognition in his eyes as he thought. Looking over at her he noted that she held his stone close to her heart. * If this stone was the last gift her grandfather gave to her it would be worth more to her then anything I could offer. She knows I need my stone I see it in her eyes but I also see fear and uneasiness. She does not wish to separate herself from it since she has had it for 14 years. *

"I will think it over Phoenix. I never said I was joining you in the fight." Genki let the Phoenix speak for him.

"Why aren't you Cinderbird? Were you not awakened for this purpose?"

"I do not enter into a battle or war without knowing more information about those whom are to be my allies. I was awakened during the ancients war and now recently. I do not know my purpose as of yet Phoenix."

"Then will you join us if we tell you what you information you require of us?" he studied Genki for a moment.

"I do not want information. I wish to know who you are, and if you are worthy of being an ally Phoenix, if you are the true Phoenix." Genki already knew what he must do.

"Then fight me Cinderbird, unless you are afraid to see the truth of whom you fight." With a chuckle Cinderbird rose into the air.

"Then come with me Phoenix." He took off with a single flap of his flaming green wings. Genki ran, jumping off the edge of the building into the air, his wings instantly came out catching him and he soared after the Phoenix of the earth. Holly took a deep breath and bravely jumped as she had seen Genki do, her wings painfully spread for the first time catching her; she sped after Genki and Cinderbird with Aaka and Armaoq close behind her. Hasuka noticed them through the window but quickly walked out of the room to distract the others. After all if they were leaving like that it was for a good reason in his mind. Cinderbird took them to a meadow, landing he smirked as Genki landed before him. Holly, Aaka, and Armaoq all landed off to the side to watch the inevitable fight.

"Its time to see if you really are the true Phoenix and worthy of such a role and power. Only then will I fight with you."

"Lets do it then." They both took offensive stances that contrasted each other's style. Wings spread backwards out of the way the flames in them building, their auras could be seen flickering around them like flames, each was ready to move at a moments notice like a cat ready to pounce on its prey.

To be continued…….