Tora-chan: Life is a mess of school work, work, classroom experience time, more school work, and what ever else my parents decide to dump on me.
Hiroshi: You know things would be easier if you didn't work on your story.
Tora-chan: If I didn't work on my story I would go insane, completely and utterly insane.
Yuki: I thought you were already there?
Tora-chan: Alright who un-gagged Yuki?
--
Last time: Defeated Rei after destroying the elemental star stone
--
Sun streamed down gently enveloping the sleeping figure in a warm embrace. She shifted ever so slightly before curling up and drifting asleep again; never noticing the tenor-toned chuckle and the door softly shutting.
The next morning also dawned bright, once again bathing her in warm light. With another shift she slowly sat up and looked around the room in contusion. When recognition dawn, she jumped off the bed and ran down the hall and into the kitchen. There she found a room of confusion and discord that at any other time would have annoyed her, instead she found herself laughing, as she sat of the floor against the wall. Quiet quickly descended on the chaos when everyone turned to look at her.
"Vitanie, are you okay?" Kagome asked looking at the hysterical tigress.
"I'm fine," she managed between laughs. "I just never thought I'd see a half dog demon and wolf demon covered in bread dough, a lioness glowering at a fox, who is covered in eggs, and that being largely ignored by everyone else - - in my kitchen," she explained before breaking out in laughter again. With a quick scan Kagome and Sango saw what she meant and joined her on the floor.
A few minutes later Akiasa came in with a smile, "It has been much too long since I have heard that much laughter." After that she turned toward Vitanie, "Now daughter, do you mind telling me why you've been in bed for two days."
"Two days! You've got to be joking. But that does remind me - - how'd I get back here?"
"Vee, you're hopeless," Yuki muttered.
"I'm also not the one covered in dough at the moment."
"To answer your question, you flew back on Kirara with Akemi," Sango supplied.
"Akemi? What was he doing there? Would someone please explain what's going on?" she asked completely confuse.
"I would like to know as well," a tenor voice said from the doorway. With a start Vitanie turned and started at the injured but alive wood fairy.
"Sen - - you're okay," she exclaimed as she pushed off the wall and basically tackled him.
"That I am, thanks to your mother," he finished in a whisper.
"That's right - - someone was going to explain why Akemi was at the shrine."
"That is an easy answer. We followed you," Akiasa said bluntly as she began to work on the forgotten breakfast. "The day after you left neither of us could concentrate, so we closed the temple and started up the mountain. It was around the time the barrier came down that we found Sen and Makoto," she explained.
"Yeah, it was then that Mom stayed behind with Sen and I continued up the mountain. I showed up right after you fell asleep," Akemi supplied, bringing in a fresh batch of eggs.
"From there we loaded you on to Kirara and made it back here," Sango finished.
Vitanie stood there in shock until a hand landed lightly on her shoulder. She turned and looked into Sen's green eyes.
"Now maybe you could explain what happened to the elemental star stone."
At the statement she dropped her head and sat down at the table before she could collapse.
"There is no need to worry, Rei did not get the star stone," she said flatly.
"Then where is it?" Akiasa asked noticing Akemi looking at Vitanie before turning away.
"I destroyed it," she whispered not looking up. She felt the two staring at her in shock and wonder.
"But it shouldn't be possible - - the stone was split into five fragments because they couldn't be destroyed," Akiasa admitted.
"If they could we would have done so," Sen added with a sad look in his eyes, thinking back to his lost Chika.
"I don't know what else to tell you. I stabbed the star in the center with the sword and after the explosion the only thing left was dust," she explained with a sigh.
Akiasa and Sen turned and looked at each other before starting to laugh. Everyone else stared at them in confusion until their laughter died down.
"After everything we tried the one thing we didn't do was stab it with a sword," Sen finally replied.
"That's probably because we didn't have the star sword," Akiasa managed as she removed the eggs from the stove.
"Well that's interesting and all, but I can't stay in her anymore," Vitanie interrupted their laughter, as she stood, grabbed an apple out of a basket by the door, and walked out the door.
Akemi's eyes followed her movements, but seemed deep in thought. Akiasa noticed the look but pushed it aside determined to look into it later.
"Now everyone, dig in, there's plenty more if you want it," she smiled around the full kitchen.
--
Akemi moved quietly through the orchard looking for his sister. He had sensed the difference in her power signature and was surprised to feel such a mix of energy. He was also certain that she wasn't aware of it either.
He found her sitting up in the branches of one of the trees, the wind gently blowing through her hair that she had let out of its usual braid. He stood there watching her in awe; she looked so peaceful that he didn't want to disturb her just yet. He wasn't given the chance to walk away though due to her speaking up.
"Why's you follow me Akemi?" she asked, not twitching a muscle, as she continued to stare into the distance.
"Ah - - we were worried about you - - that's why we followed you up the mountain."
Vitanie started to laugh as she turned to look down at him, "You're still a terrible liar."
"I wasn't lying," he huffed.
"Yes you were. A few days ago I know you were worried about me, but we both knew I was talking about today," she chuckled as she jumped down and waved him over to come and sit on the bench with her. "So, why'd you follow me today?"
"Your energy's changed," he blurted out. "A few days ago I read your energy as a flowing combination of your own demon energy and the star stone, but they were separate. Now I can't tell a difference - - it's completely fused," he finished looking at her in confusion.
"Really - - I don't feel any different," she mused.
"Have you even tried to use the elemental power since you woke up?" he questioned quietly.
"Why would I? The star stone's gone so I shouldn't have the ability to use elemental power anymore," she shrugged.
"Well I'm telling you you're wrong," Akemi exclaimed as he jumped to his feet and started pacing. "The elemental powers have been absorbed into your own power."
Vitanie calmly got to her feet and stood in his path, "Akemi - - the stone is gone I can assure you of that. But if why you say is true then you've just confirmed something for me."
He looked up at her and saw the sadness in her eyes; a pain that spoke of great loneliness and longing, "What?" he whispered.
She smiled sadly back, "That I can't stay." She held her hand up to stale the protest she knew would come. "This temple was my life for sixteen years. I watched the world pass by through those windows without being able to touch any of it. These last few years have been a dream for me and I'm not ready to give it up quite yet."
"No one's asking you to, you won't be locked inside anymore," he interjected.
She smiled and pulled him into a hug, "Thank you, my sweet little brother, but that's exactly why I have to leave."
"I don't understand."
"If what you say is true then the five basic elemental powers reside within me. Others won't believe that I destroyed the stone and they'll come after it. I can't stay here and put you and Mom in danger."
"That's exactly why you should stay. Our barriers can protect. . ."
"No, Akemi," she interrupted his pleading. "That would just make me a prisoner of my own home again. Besides I made a promise to my father to rebuild his village."
"Then you must keep your promise," Akiasa stated as she walked towards her children. "I knew you wouldn't stay, so I made you this," she said holding out her open hand. In it laid a flat stone on a leather cord. The white stone reflected back fissures of red, orange, and yellows.
"It is called Crystal Aurora; I have inlaid a barrier in it that will block your energy without inhibiting you use of it."
"Mother, but how did you know?"
"Because you remind me of your father; he hated to remain still and loved to roam around the garden giving him an illusion of freedom. You also have that same stubborn streak as well. Now come inside, as of tomorrow I will once again have an empty kitchen and would love to be told stories of your adventures," she smiled leading her children back to the house.
--
Tora-chan: Well everything is almost wrapped up. There should be one more chapter coming.
Vitanie: About time, you've had been waiting for ever to have me finish everything. Oh and what's this rumor about a possible sequel?
Tora-chan: Shush up you, I haven't decided how to write it yet, so it will be a long time before I even attempt to post it.
Vitanie: Whatever (turns and walks away).
Tora-chan: (muttering) temperamental muses.
Hiroshi: Well we thank you for once again reading the latest chapter. Please leave a review and give Tora-chan some feed back. And as always have a great morning, day, and night (bows).