Disclaimer: I own nothing

'Thinking'

"Speaking"

SPELL/ABILITY

(********) = Scene/Location/Time Change

Chapter 5: Gained and Lost

Leon felt in his element amidst the chaos of the street fight. The new blade fit him perfectly. As he sliced his way through the remaining guards he noticed one problem, no bullets. In the heat of battle Leon had failed to notice the reinforcements arriving. He also had failed to notice the noble begin to chant a spell from behind.

"Insolent boy!" the noble shouted, "You're finished! INFERNAL STRIKE!"

A large ball of flame flew at the boy. He began to turn to block the hit, but he knew he would be too slow. At the last second a form jumped between Leon and the massive fire ball.

"ABSORB!" the voice shouted over the roar of the flames. The flame was suddenly drawn into the blade making it grow bright red.

Leon was awestruck as he saw the face of his savior. It was Saito.

"Let's catch up later, but first we need finish this." Saito said evenly.

Leon nodded, but also extended his hand for a quick fist bump. As Saito obliged the chamber of Leon's gun-blade glowed brightly and Saito's sword lost the light it had maintained. Leon looked at his gun in shock to see bullets with flame symbols appear.

"What just happened?" Saito asked his friend as the stood in a back to back stance.

"Don't know," Leon said as the guards surrounded them, "but I'm not about to complain about free ammo."

With that the guards attacked the two. Saito practiced the techniques he had learned that morning and Leon used his trained skills from being a kendo champ. The two made quick work of the guards. Still back to back, Saito and Leon turned to face their final adversary, the noble.

(********)

Sienna collapsed against her door as she shut it behind her. Her familiar walked over to the able and sat down in the chair.

"Perhaps you should have thought of a better cover." Aria suggested.

"Doesn't matter now," Sienna sighed, "We had no chance of flying low with that look of yours anyway."

Since that morning the two had been endlessly battered with questions. There were a number of reasons as to why, but that didn't matter. They had finally found peace and quiet. Sienna stood up and walked over to fall on to her bed. As the two finally began to relax a knock came from the door drawing a groan from both the girls.

"Who is it?" Sienna questioned meekly.

"It's Louise," replied the voice "I wanted to talk."

"Why didn't you ask earlier?" Sienna questioned as she walked to the door.

"It's about Saito…" the girl responded making Sienna pause before opening the door.

"Come in." the fire haired girl ordered.

"Thanks." Louise responded as she walked in.

Louise sat in the second seat at the table and Sienna returned to sit on the bed. The three sat in silence for a moment. Louise starred at the table before finally speaking.

"How did you know him?" the short girl asked.

"He's my friend." Sienna said.

"Are you from his world?" Louise inquired.

"Yes." The commoner said as she fell back on her bed with a sigh.

"What was your relationship to him?" Aria asked the girl.

"He was my familiar…" Louise replied, "I didn't like him if that's what you think. He was just the first person to be nice to me. I attacked him and was cruel to him because I wanted to feel special…"

"I had heard about you constantly beating Saito." Sienna said coolly, "I don't like that too much but what's done is done."

"I didn't love Saito, but he was probably my first friend other than the princess." Louise told the other two, "So I don't agree with my father's actions towards him but…"

"But you can't go against him because he's your father." Aria finished for the small pinked haired girl.

"That's right." Louise said sadly.

Sienna sighed, "How about I be your friend?"

"What?" Louise responded perplexed by the girl's suggestion.

"Saito is my rival, friend, and the one I aspire to be like." Sienna explained, "I may be more intelligent, but Saito has kindness beyond reason. He hates those who look down on others, but he doesn't look down on them."

The pinkette nodded, "But what does that have to be with us being friends."

"How about we learn about more about him from each other?" Sienna suggested.

The young mage smiled, "Sure!"

"We can talk about more than Saito of course." Sienna said, "It's been a while since I had friend that was a girl."

Louise laughed, "At least your friends aren't destined to rule your country."

The two laughed at each other.

(********)

The fight had been short lived. Saito and Leon had overpowered the fat noble and ended the fight. The fatigue of the fight caught up to them. They both fell to the ground side by side. Henrietta, who had kept Jessica from running to Leon when the girl had emerged from the pub in the middle of the fight, began to run towards the two victors with Jessica close behind. As the two neared the boys they were surprised to hear the sound of laughter come from the two adolescents.

"Feels like a reverse of when we met." Saito said to his friend recalling when Leon had saved the boy.

"Yeah," Leon replied, "This time I picked a fight too big for me."

"How did you get here?" Saito asked his Senpai.

"I went looking for you and found myself falling from the sky." Leon told his friend.

"I guess I never stop causing you problems." Saito laughed.

"You really don't," Leon replied, "You fucking mondaiji."

Henrietta came to her senses and called out to the two, "What in the world was that?"

"Do you know?" Saito asked his dark haired friend.

"Not a clue." Leon replied flatly.

The two boys laughed heartily as the girls responded in unison, "You two are morons."

"Would you like me to explain?" questioned a voice from the alley.

"Who are you?" Leon asked in the direction of the voice.

A wolf pup with a scar under his right eye emerged from the alleyway and spoke to the group, "I'm the spirit in charge of the keeper of the gun-blade."

"Good to see you Vandal!" Derflinger said to the wolf pup.

"Ah! Derflinger! I haven't seen you since that child put me into that charm." Vandal replied.

'That child? Could he mean Lelah?' Leon thought to himself.

"What is it that you'd like to explain to us?" Henrietta asked.

"Well," the wolf pup began to explain, "Those two boys right there are a bit special. As I'm sure at least one of you knows objects from other worlds can find their way to this world."

Saito nodded and spoke to the sword spirit, "What about it?"

"The flow goes both ways." The wolf continued, "Things can travel to this world, and to that world."

"We came from another world." Leon said, "That's old news."

"Not to us." Henrietta and Jessica said slightly annoyed at the boys.

"That is where you're wrong master," the pup said as he sat down and began his story, "Thirteen years ago a family of high prestige and power was hosting a dinner party when a fight broke out. Several of the most powerful families had gathered there that night. A group of lower ranked families held hatred towards these people. The powerful families were known for being extremely generous and kind towards commoners. This set the other nobles, who frequently abused their powers, in a bad position with the king. The group of nobles, who opposed the actions of the stronger families, banded together and attacked the party. The mages were caught off guard, and despite their amazing powers, were defeated."

"I don't get it, where do Leon and I come in?" Saito asked.

"I'm getting there." The spirit said irked by the boy's impatience, "The last thing the nobles did was save their children. They sent them to another world until they were old enough to defend themselves from the assailants that had attacked their families. You two are to heirs to the families. Leon of the Wolfengar household and Saito of the Hounding household."

The group was silent. They didn't want to know this to be true but deep down they understood that Vandal had no reason to lie.

"How many of us were there?" Saito asked the spirit.

"I'd say roughly twenty-one." Vandal answered.

"Why in the world send their defenseless kids to another world without anyone to help them?" Leon asked his spirit.

"You weren't alone." Vandal said, "You were accompanied by a girl. Her name was Lelah. She was the eldest, yet the weakest, of the children."

"Does that mean she's in this world too?" Leon said eagerly.

"I can't answer that." Vandal replied.

Jessica spoke up, "She already returned…"

Leon looked at her excitedly, but his face fell when he saw her expression.

"Where's my sister?" Saito asked as he suddenly snapped out of a confused daze he had fallen into trying to process everything.

"I'm sorry… Saito… Leon… she's dead." Jessica said weakly.

The boys were stunned at the news. Henrietta quickly moved to Saito's side to comfort him, but grieving would have to come later. As the two boys fell into a silent despair the fainted noble began to wake.

Raising his wand in one hand the mage muttered "FIREBALL."

An orb of fire the size of a soccer ball was sent flying towards the bar. Saito jumped to deflect the orb but fell short. As the fireball hit the building screams could be heard from inside. The two boys looked at each other and resolved to put the pieces together. They stood and rushed towards the burning building.

(********)

After Louise had left Sienna began to settle down. Sienna moved one of the chairs from the table over to the window and began to read the textbook the school had given her on magic. As she occasionally looked out the window she couldn't help but think of her two friends. She hoped they had found each other.

"I'm sure they're fine." Aria assured her troubled looking master.

"I suppose…" the mage replied allowing her voice to trail off.

"It's not like they're rushing into burning buildings and starting fights." Aria said jokingly.

"Yeah, you're right." The young girl said as she laughed off her worries.

(********)

Jessica, Leon, and Saito rushed inside to help the workers. Henrietta and Vandal stayed behind to make sure the noble didn't try to escape. Saito used Derf to clear the spreading magic flames and create a pathway for Leon to lead the girls to the exit. They successfully got everyone out.

Leon looked around and shouted to Saito over the roar of the flames, "Where's Jessica?"

"She went to get something from her room." Saito responded keeping the flames at bay with his sword.

"Get out of here I'll go get her." Leon told his friend before rushing off into the blaze.

'What's important enough to run into a burning building for?' Leon thought as he ran in the direction of her room.

When Leon had navigated his way to Jessica's room he found her crumpled on the ground tightly clutching something. He lifted her into his arms and began to leave the room. As they slowly made their way out of the burning building Jessica regained consciousness and looked up to see Leon carrying her in search of an exit.

"You came to get me…" Jessica mumbled.

"Of course I did." Leon replied.

"I'm sorry." The girl said burying her face in the boy's chest.

"Was she happy?" Leon said as they finally made their way to the exit.

Jessica understood what he was asking, "Yes, she was thinking of you two until the end."

"That's good… I'm not ready right now but one day…" Leon began.

"I'll tell you everything when you think you're ready." Jessica said.

"I'm glad… knowing she was happy in the end… that's enough to let me move on." Leon said as the two exited the burning pub.

Leon and Jessica crossed the street to join Henrietta and Saito. When the pair had reached the cover of the store across the street the four turned and watch as the pub collapsed. Jessica turned and hid her face in Leon's chest as he wrapped his arms around her.

Henrietta put her hand on the girl's shoulder and spoke, "You're all welcome to stay at the castle until this place can be rebuilt."

"Thank you." Jessica said bleary eyed.

"Watching your home burn to the ground because of us…" Saito started.

"It's ok." Jessica assured Saito as she wiped her eyes, "I don't blame you. How are you holding up?"

Saito looked distant as he answered, "I'm not ready for answers quite yet, but I'll get there."

(…)

Heyo, everyone. Sorry if I dumped a lot on you all in this chapter but trust me I'll tie everything up in the next chapter. Regarding Sienna and Aria I will tell you now that they will be getting less attention than the others until they meet up with Saito and Leon. (A couple more chapters I believe) That said they are important to the story. Also, if you think Leon moved on a bit quickly from Lelah I can explain that. It had been years since the two had seen each other and Leon had already fallen out of love with her he was just unable to admit it to himself. Finding out that she had passed away upset him, but finding out she was happy gave him the peace of mind he needed to move on. I also want to address the fact that the others characters at the school will be getting more attention. Soon… ish… yeah… I hope you guys are enjoying the story. The next chapter will also be a bit of a comic relief after this chapter. Stay tuned. –Lion.

P.S.: Will Saito get a clue? Will the two be ready to hear about the death of Lelah? Will Siesta actually get a major part in the story? Find out next time!