History

This was the first time in ages where Lyserg had nothing to say. He knew of the boy's power, but seeing it in person was amazing. There was no way Junichi would know anything about Horo. This definitely wasn't a hoax.

Ren charged in front of him quickly and held out his hand. Junichi took a step back and stared at him with a timid expression.

"Touch it," he demanded. "Tell me what you see."

"Ren," Tamao sighed, "maybe this isn't a good idea."

"We all need to know what we're up against. Take my hand, boy."

"Junichi," Lyserg said softly after clearing his throat, "are your visions ever wrong?"

"Never," he replied.

"But they're subjective, right?" Lyserg walked toward Tamao and stood beside her. "Your visions can change depending on what actions are taken, can't they?"

"They never have, but I guess so."

"You're saying he could be wrong about Horo?" Ren's tone softened slightly.

"No, but I'm saying there could be a way to change it."

Tamao released a nervous sigh. She was partially relieved with his assessment, but it didn't necessarily mean he was right. The thought of seeing Horo again made her extremely anxious, but as much as she wanted to see him she didn't want to die.

"Ren, do you mind if I try?"

Lyserg approached Junichi very slowly and gently grabbed one of his hands. Ren stepped out of the way, and Tamao moved beside him. Junichi closed his eyes and clenched his teeth momentarily, and after several seconds of contact he jerked his hand away.

"What did you see?" Lyserg asked with great curiosity.

The black emptiness returned, and the pain that seemed present before was now completely gone. Tamao stared at the glowing forearm and tightened her hands into fists.

"She attacks out of self preservation," he said plainly. "The ice is sharp...like spears. There are too many of them to ignore. He doesn't want to burn her with the fire but is forced to attack."

"Pirika," Lyserg mumbled and looked away.

"The earth is shaking," Junichi continued. "It feels...like an earthquake. He's unbalanced, and the fire is deflected into the trees. There's another man. He's...standing in front of her."

"What is he talking about?" Tamao whispered.

"The earth obeys his will," he said and clenched his teeth. "His power is great; the attack is devastating. Nichrom will crush every single bone in your body."

Junichi stared at him with sad eyes as his normal appearance returned. Lyserg wasn't looking at him. He began pacing slowly in front of him and muttered something under his breath.

"It doesn't matter how many times we do this," Junichi said. "If any of you go to Hao's camp you'll die."

"So we're separated," Lyserg said. "We split up when we get there, and that's how we end up in these fights."

"What if we don't split up?" Tamao suggested. "I mean...if we stay together we could fight them off."

"Where's Yoh during all of this?" Ren asked. "You can't see other people in these visions?"

"I have to touch the person," Junichi said, "or hold something that they've touched. It's one of my limits."

"What other limits do you have?" Lyserg stopped pacing and stood in front of him.

"I can't see my future," he replied bitterly. "And I can't read anything directly from a telepath."

"Have you tried reading telepaths before?" Ren asked.

"Yeah," he admitted. "My aunt and Hao."

"What happened with Hao?" Tamao asked with a curious frown.

"It was an accident. I tripped and fell into him, but when I touched his hair I fainted."

"Fainted?" Lyserg scratched his eyebrow and stepped closer. "Is that normal?"

"No," Junichi said as worry invaded his tone. "My aunt said trying it with someone that powerful would kill me."

"Are Hao and Kiyomi allies?" Ren asked with narrowed eyes.

"They haven't spoken since I was seven. She instructed the army to kill any of his accomplices who wander into our territory. So, I think not."

"Excuse us for one moment," Lyserg said politely and pulled Tamao by the hand several feet away. Ren reluctantly joined them, and they left Junichi standing far enough away where he couldn't hear them talking.

"We need to take this boy with us. At the very least, we need to keep him long enough to find the others."

"Why?" Tamao asked and scratched her nose.

"If he has a vision for all of us, it will give a clearer picture," Ren suggested. "We may even be able to prepare a method of attack."

Tamao bit her bottom lip and exhaled. She was against the idea but knew they wouldn't be talked out of it.

"Tamao, we'll have to fight when we get there," Lyserg warned. "There's no way around it."

"He said he can see visions by touching items," Ren said. "Maybe he can tell us what Hao plans to do with Anna."

"The possibilities are endless," Lyserg added enthusiastically. "This boy fell into our lap for a reason. He can help us get the kids back."

"We have to help him get home," Tamao said wearily. "I don't think it's good to use him like that. He's still very young, and all of this activity could hurt him."

"We're outnumbered," Ren sighed. "We have to consider the possibility of Yoh not fighting at all. He would want to resolve this peacefully. If that's the case, we need a plan."

"Would he really not help us?" Lyserg asked with worry.

A pause lingered in the air momentarily as they stared at the dirt beneath their feet. Ren was definitely right, but this was something they didn't want to believe. Yoh was angry enough at the house to take this journey. He had to see it through in their minds.

Any other possibility was too frightening to imagine.

"I'll help you."

Junichi was standing a few feet behind Ren when he made the statement, and Tamao stumbled back when she noticed him.

"This was supposed to be a private conversation," Ren said. "No one saw him move?"

"Do you have something that belongs to this...Anna?"

"She's a telepath," Tamao said gravely.

"As long as I don't touch her, it'll work."

"We don't want to tire you out. Are you sure it's okay?"

"He said he'll help, Tamao," Ren groaned.

Tamao removed the backpack she had been wearing off of her shoulders and dropped it onto the ground. She began searching through a few zippered pockets along the outside and pulled out a long, red scarf.

"This is hers," she said timidly and handed it to him.

Junichi held the fabric delicately in his arms, sliding it in and out his fingers and twisting it into loops around his hand. He brought the scarf slowly to his face and inhaled deeply, and the feminine scent released in the fabric was overwhelming. Junichi closed his eyes and moaned softly, and Tamao nervously bit her bottom lip.

"Awkward," Lyserg whispered.

"It's not as clear," he said finally.

"What did you see?" Tamao asked.

"It's fuzzy," he replied as he fiddled with the scarf between his hands. "There's a man kissing her. He's very strong."

They stared at him with confusion. His words were uncomfortable.

"She's restrained," he said and closed his eyes. "Ice, I think. She's...bleeding...because he punched her. Her lip is bleeding. He apologizes."

"What?" Ren blurted.

Junichi tilted his head and tightened his closed eyes as he squeezed the scarf in his hand. He clenched his teeth for a brief moment then immediately relaxed his jaw.

"She calls him Pino," he said softly. "He doesn't scare her."

He opened his eyes and placed the scarf gently in Tamao's hand. She stared at it with shock, and her hand began to tremble.

"My head hurts. I'm...sorry."

"That's...incredible," Lyserg said as he stared at him with widened eyes.

"Pino was the one who took her," Tamao said sadly.

"And apparently he has a crush," Ren added.

"Were they at Hao's camp, Junichi?" Lyserg asked eagerly.

"I don't know. It wasn't clear enough."

"But she didn't die in your vision," Tamao said. "That's a start."

There was a sudden rustle in the trees surrounding the clearing, and Ren darted his eyes toward the sound. Several seconds passed as a group of men quickly surrounded them wearing black garments. A few of the men carried lanterns with them, but those with free hands drew their swords and prepared to attack.

"Eliminate the threat!" one of the men shouted.

Tamao, Ren, Junichi and Lyserg were trapped inside the clearing as the men encircled them. Although Tamao was terrified Lyserg and Junichi appeared calm. Ren stared at them with a smile. He had been waiting for an excuse to fight for some time now, and this situation presented the perfect opportunity.

"Wait!" Lyserg called to them and raised the torch in the air. "We're not your enemies!"

"Stand down!" Junichi commanded sternly.

He stepped in front of Lyserg and glared at the men with an expression of annoyance. The flame from Lyserg's torch illuminated his eyes with a terrible glow, and the men quickly sheathed their swords. One man stepped forward as the others fell to their knees, and he lowered his head as he addressed the boy.

"Master Junichi," he said humbly, "we're here to escort you back."

"These are my companions," he replied.

The man glanced at Lyserg's torch momentarily, but when he noticed Tamao standing behind him his eyes widened with amazement.

"Her name is Tamao," Junichi explained. "I wish to present her to my father."

"Um...what?" she blurted.

"They are her servants." He pointed. "Lyserg and Ren."

"He's kidding, right?" Ren asked.

"They will be accompanying us there," Junichi said authoritatively. "Do you understand?"

"Yes, Master," the man replied nervously then turned to Lyserg. "Please forgive my rudeness. Companions of Master Junichi are our honored guests."

"There's no need to apologize," Lyserg said warmly. "Please lead the way."

The men flanked Junichi on all sides as they traveled into the dark woods. Tamao, Lyserg and Ren followed closely behind.

"What are we doing?" Ren asked angrily. "This is not a vacation. We have to find the others."

"If they live in a village in the middle of the woods, do you really think Yoh didn't stumble upon them too?" Lyserg countered.

"What if he didn't?"

"Just go with it, Ren," he sighed. "We can't go to Hao's camp until we find Yoh, and we'll need a plan when we get there anyway."

"Um, what about me?" Tamao asked with a stressed whisper.

"I think..." Lyserg paused and pulled his ear. "He may have meant presenting you as a bride for Tamotsu."

Ren and Lyserg continued walking, but Tamao stopped her pace and stared at Lyserg's back with widened eyes. They didn't seem to understand the seriousness of Lyserg's statement, or at the very least, they didn't care enough for her comfort.

"But, you could be wrong..." she called fearfully and jogged behind them. "...right?"


"I am...not...your enemy."

Kiyomi struggled to speak. The fabric was slowly strangling her as it tightened, and she had no use of her hands to free herself. Yoh advanced toward her with a deliberately slow pace which seemed to increase the painful hold. His eyes were filled with darkness that frightened her, and for a brief moment she saw what appeared to be an amused grin.

"What were you planning?" he asked with an irritated growl.

"Please," she whimpered as tears quickly wet her face. "Release me. I have...no intention to harm-"

The curtains tightened, nearly collapsing her throat and forcibly cutting off her air. Her eyes widened with terror as the tears increased, and as her face flushed burgundy he bared his teeth. The long strands of her hair dangled lightly against the floor as he lifted her slightly higher than before, and as the pressure increased she involuntarily closed her eyes.

A sudden flash of light distracted him. The curtains feathered along the floor as the air inside of the room carried them delicately with the gravity. Kiyomi fell to the floor immediately as soon as the restraint lifted. She coughed a few times and crawled toward the wall when noticing a large sword lodged above her head.

"Touch her again and you'll die."

She recognized his voice immediately and exhaled with relief she couldn't hide. Yoh glared at him with a slightly irritated expression, but after several moments his demeanor was clouded with confusion.

"Tamotsu, I'm fine."

"You're bleeding," he protested.

"It was just a misunderstanding," she insisted. "Nothing to worry about. Right, Asakura?"

Yoh said nothing and gazed at the wall. Tamotsu sliced the curtains that were restraining her without him ever seeing the blade. His speed was impressive, but Yoh was more concerned with why he had to take that action in the first place. He knew he was angry in the moment but couldn't remember why.

"You should rest," she said warmly. "Forgive me for disturbing you."

Her cheerful tone was uncomfortable. Tamotsu assisted her as she stood, and as she exited the room he paused and stared at Yoh with eyes of hatred. Yoh returned the gesture with blankness. His eyes remained fixed on the source of his rage as he pulled the sword from the wall, and he held the handle tightly in his hand.

"It would give me great pleasure to stain this blade in your blood. She is your only reprieve. Consider yourself lucky, demon Asakura."

He reached the doorway before Yoh took a step forward and clenched his teeth. His anger was unjustified but strong, and he glared at his back as he exited. Tamotsu sped his pace. The sword in his hand vibrated slightly the tighter he gripped it, but he quickly returned it into the sheath at his hip when he saw her standing against the railing holding a silk cloth. He stood beside her rigidly staring at the first level below and for a few moments didn't speak.

"He doesn't remember," she said with a disappointed whisper.

"That's a good thing," he replied. "It means we have the advantage."

"No, I need him to remember. None of this will matter if he doesn't remember."

"Kiyomi, it's too dangerous. If his memories are suppressed, so is his power."

She clutched the railing with her hands and narrowed her eyes. "I don't care."

"You should," he rebutted with a frustrated frown.

"I want him to remember what he did," she said defiantly.

"This is enough, Kiyomi. It's too much of a risk."

She closed her eyes and heavily exhaled.

"Keep your distance," he pleaded. "I can't protect you if you antagonize him."

"Tamotsu," she said wearily. "Please promise me you'll kill him. Violently."

"There's nothing I want more than to take his life. You have my word."


Anna was lying on her side against the thin mattress staring at the kerosene lamps. The light flickered weakly as the orange hue began to dull. She knew she would be shrouded in darkness very soon, and her fatigue made the matter somewhat welcoming. Pino had left her there alone for several hours, she determined. But then again, there was no real sense of time in that room. The walls were heavily insulated. She couldn't sense anyone in the vicinity, which was probably why they put her there. Thoughts of her son increased her anxiety. Hana was somewhere in the camp, and she had hoped being taken would reunite them. She had to push away her irrational fear, no matter how paranoid she felt as a mother. Hana would be safe. He was strong and stubborn, qualities that often irritated her in the past.

The steel door squeaked slightly as the heavy mass was pushed ajar. She sat up in the bed, peering in the direction of the doorway, but the shadow prevented her from seeing who was entering. The pale light outlined the figure menacingly, and she swallowed hard while squinting her eyes. As the door was closed she caught a glimpse of long, auburn hair crashing against his back. The discovery shifted her fear into calm indifference as he stepped quietly toward the bed.

"Hello, Anna," he said warmly.

"Hao."

"It's been a very long time, hasn't it?"

The light barely traced the recognizable features of his face, but she could still clearly see his smile.