The beginning of the third clan

Many of the Hikari soldiers that had left were unmarried, so they flirted with the young healers shamelessly. It quickly became obvious to Rune and Syaoran that several of the two clans were becoming interested in each other. Syaoran couldn't sleep at all for two days straight as a crazy idea began to form in his head…

"Rune, can I talk to you in private?" asked Syaoran.

"Sure."

"What do you want to talk about, Syaoran?" asked Rune.

"It's about the Hikari soldiers and the healers…"

"You think that it's not a good thing that they're becoming more hospitable to the other clan?" asked Rune.

"No, no I wasn't thinking about that at all. I believe that their interaction with each other is a very good thing! It's something else that's been bothering me…"

"What?"

"I was wondering if a third clan could be created; one with both bloodlines combined into one."

"You're kidding…" said Rune in shock.

"Think about it! If the two clans came together and formed a third clan with both bloodlines then it might end all the pointless fighting between them!"

"Basically what you're trying to say is that a third clan might help resolve the Krad-despises-Dark syndrome…" she joked.

"Pretty much, yeah."

"You're either crazy or brilliant…" Rune muttered.

"Funny how those two often walk hand-in-hand," joked Syaoran.

"I'll talk to father about this the next time I see him. Why don't you go mention your idea to Dark and see what he thinks about it?"

"You might have something there, Syaoran…" Dark said thoughtfully.

"I wonder why no one else has ever thought about it before…" said Syaoran.

"Probably because the two clans were always fighting each other that the idea would be considered utterly ridiculous."

"True," Syaoran admitted.

When their father heard of Syaoran's idea, he actually thought it might work. If nothing else, the Hikari clan would quit treating women like dirt. (They'd have to, considering the fact that Niwa women would retaliate to such bad treatment!)

They presented the idea to the others, and got mixed reactions. The veterans of the clan opposed what they thought was a ridiculous idea; while the younger and less experienced members supported it wholeheartedly! In the end the younger generation out-voted the veterans. And so, what was considered a crazy idea was to be put to the test when the Hikari clan's attack on the clan as over.

It took over a month before enough of the Hikari army left the main group in favor of the Niwa clan helping them go back home. Soon it became very, very clear to the commanding officers that trying to force the army to continue was pointless. They went to meet with the Niwa general for to request a truce. Both sides met and the attack against the Niwa clan was dropped. It wasn't until after BOTH sides signed the truce that Syaoran introduce his idea of a middle clan with both bloodlines. The idea met some opposition from the commanding officers, but the remaining Hikari left were all for the idea. The officers raised their hands in defeat as they had been overwhelmingly outvoted by their troops.
"So, Syaoran, how do we go about starting this 'third' clan?" asked Dark.

This question had been on Syaoran's mind the night before and he didn't sleep until he had a solution.

"We let the Hikari soldiers who want to remain here in our territory stay while the rest go home. The soldiers who stay can then get together with our female healers and hopefully end up falling in love. The half-Niwa, half-Hikari child will stay with us until they are old enough to be married. That sound good to you?"

"That sounds good in theory, but who will be the first to have a child with both bloodlines? They would have to set the example for the others to follow or it won't work," said the Hikari officer.

"I think I know who'll be the first to have a child with both bloodlines…" said Dark as his eyes went to Rune and Syaoran.

"Why are you looking at…?" they said in unison.

"Rune Niwa and Syaoran Hikari. I have a feeling that they'll be the first ones to start the new clan," said Dark, "OW!" (Rune and Syaoran had aimed two large rocks at Dark and actually hit the mark!)

A week later, a majority of the Hikari army began the trip home. Nearly 30 of the soldiers stayed in the Niwa clan's territory to attempt starting the Hikari-Niwa crossbreed.

Rune and Syaoran continued as before, but subtle changes in the way they acted towards each other were beginning to form. Dark had known this would happen, and he didn't try to stop it.