Ayume Michiyo- A zoanthrope that can turn into a Pegasus. Even though she isn't very out going but her actions vary depending on her emotional behavior, she is a good friend of Uriko's and she is Kenji Ogami's (Bakuryu) classmate. She does have strange feelings for him though. She has long blackish hair with dark violet streaks and red rose colored eyes.
Shirei Kinka- A zoanthrope (which she turns into polar bear) who works with Long, she is supposedly his apprentice but there isn't much explained in that. She has glasses with blue medium length hair and green eyes-also she is simple minded but she can be tricky to fool.
Maea Tigami- A zoanthrope (she turns into a black bear) that helped create Shenlong; even though she and him are the only ones who get along with each other they both choose to destroy their other halfs (Shirei and Long). She has long midnight blue hair with forest green eyes.
Naori Tawanori- A young woman who helps Alice with her work but she is also a mysterious zoanthrope which no one has found yet to be of existence. She has medium length silver hair and light purple eyes.
Takase Hito-A school mate of Uriko's; he helps her find out the truth behind her past as he searches for his own. Takase is also a zoanthrope; which he turns into a serpent with dragon wings. He has short gold spiky hair and brown eyes. He is outgoing but sometimes serious.
Chapter two: An invitation...
Ayume looked at the office rooms in the building through the elevator glass while Bakuryu was finishing fixing up his tie since he was wearing a white suit. "Bakuryu? What is this place?" Ayume asked. "This is the company I work with. I am the owner of it. We are working on a prototype of what is known to be the iron mole. Kohryu is his name. I am trying to program him to adapt to humans and other zoanthropes. Do you know what zoanthrope you are Ayume?" Bakuryu said as he turned to her. Ayume sighed as she tried to think then shook her head. "I'm sorry but I still don't know." she said sadly. Bakuryu placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled cheerfully, "Hey don't worry about it, we'll figure that out soon." Ayume glanced at Bakuryu's dress shirt and noticed that it was a light pink, "You're wearing pink...what the hell...? I guess real men wear pink." Bakuryu twitched at that comment and glanced at the pants Ayume was wearing. "And real women always prefer pants than anything else right?" Bakuryu spat out. "Hey some people prefer pants." Ayume said looking at Bakuryu angrily but her face was showing embarrassment.
"Oh, by the way, you'll be with me all day." Bakuryu said cheerfully. "Okay." Ayume said with out even paying attention but to a golden pheonix flying in the sky. "What the? Is that what I think it is...?" She thought as she stared out the glass. As the elevator doors opened; a man approached Bakuryu with a sheet of paper in his hand. "Sir," the man said urgently. "Yes, what is it?" Bakuryu asked. "This came in the mail before you arrived, it seems to be an invitation to a tournament. Oh I see you have a visitor with you." The man bowed in front of Ayume in courtesy. "Yes, this is a special friend of mine. Make sure that she feels comfortable while she is presenced here." Bakuryu said seriously. Ayume nodded her head in acceptance of the man's bow. "Thank you for having me here, sir." she said seriously. "Well our president is always accepting visitors by this time. Thank him." the man said before handing Bakuryu the invitation. Bakuryu began reading it silently and then turned to Ayume, "We have to schedule a plane. This tournament is about to begin in less than three days." "A plane? You have one of those too?" Ayume asked. Bakuryu scratched the back of his head. "Yeah..."
"I guess I'll stay here..."
"No you are coming with me."
"Wait a minute? Don't I got a say in this Bakuryu?"
"Yes, but I am not leaving you alone. Besides, Yugo and the others probably gotten an invitation too."
"Evil. Fine I'll go with you."
Bakuryu turned to his employee, "Schedule a plane, we'll be taking off shortly." "Yes sir." The man said before he walked away. Bakuryu held out his arm to Ayume and she took it. "Bakuryu where are we going?" Ayume as they walked to the airport. "Somewhere. I don't know exactly but we have to go or something not good will fall upon us." Bakuryu said as they went up the escalators. "Our supplies are already on the plane we are taking." he said looking at his watch. "Does Takase or Uriko know about this?" Ayume asked worried. "Yes, they have been informed by now. Don't worry Ayume." Bakuryu fell silent after that and the two aboarded the plane. Inside the plane there were already some of the businessmen sitting in the front. The man who met up with them earlier escorted them to the back of the plane where Bakuryu has his own area personally for him when it came for business. "Miss Ayume. You may sit here next to Mr. Ogami." The man said politely.
Ayume opened her eyes and turned to the man and nodded, "Right." She then placed herself in the seat by the window. Bakuryu sat in the middle seat. Ayume looked out the window and saw the same golden pheonix. The plane's engines turned on. "Ayume?" Bakuryu called out to her calmly. Ayume turned to him looking a bit startled. "Yes Bakuryu?" She said. Bakuryu placed his hand on her forehead, "Are you okay? You seem a bit distracted by something..." he said with a frown. Ayume blushed and shook her head. "No, I'm fine! I just thought I saw a pheonix flying around here." She said closing her eyes halfway. "I guess you didn't get enough sleep then." Bakuryu said smiling weakly. "I got some sleep but there is this bird I keep seeing outside." Ayume tried to explain. "That wasn't a bird-it was a zoanthrope...I sense it." Bakuryu said quietly. "A zoanthrope? Why near here?" Ayume asked a bit scared. "That pheonix is the one who is hosting it I bet." Bakuryu said just before the plane started. Just when the plane took off the pheonix disappeared.
Ayume fell asleep on Bakuryu's shoulder while he was filing papers. "She still doesn't understand what has been going on besides being a replication of the pegasus zoanthrope. I know that her true powers has not yet awakened. Will she be able to control it to its full extent?" Bakuryu thought as he glanced at her. "She looks so innocent but in the past of legendary zoanthropes; she was one of the strongest and dangerous ones. Her power can be holy to those with the source of the unborn." He shook his head to get rid of the image of Ayume killing people and zoanthropes. Ayume was having a dream that kept the time occupied for her.
Ayume stood in a misty area cluelessly. "Where am I? Wasn't I sleeping...?" She questioned herself. "You are sleeping..." The pheonix approached her. The pheonix changed into his human form. He had pale blue eyes and short silver hair. His skin was a light shade of brown-actually it looked a bit tan too. "Who are you?" Ayume asked clenching her hands into fists. "My name is Cronos. You must be the pegasus zoanthrope. It is an honor to meet you here in your mind. That sounded pretty confusing." Cronos said laughing a bit. "Ignoring that part, not be rude but why are you here?" Ayume said seriously. "To see if it is true as they say: experiments between the humans and zoanthropes are becoming more violent and also to see who is the zoanthrope champion." Cronos said with a smile. "That smile is some what pissing me off Cronos." Ayume glared at him. "Well I must be positive about what is happening to this world for now. I mean I am an experiment also. I am a success." Cronos explained. "What are you talking about? I'm not an experiment." Ayume said angrily. "Are you sure about that? We wanted the zoanthrope of Pegasus to be reborn and finally you appear. I am glad..." Cronos said as he sat down in mid air. He looked like he was floating.
"So, you were the one who I saw earlier today?" Ayume asked not angry anymore. "Yes. I was seeing if everyone has gotten the invitations that I have delivered. Well when you arrive I will explain more to you." Cronos said before he disappeared. "Wait I wanted to ask you something..." Ayume said holding her hand out. Cronos instantly came back and grabbed Ayume by the arm. "Your skin-I sense your power through it. You are an experiment who has lost their memories because of the power that is resting inside." Cronos seemed to have a grip on Ayume's arm. "Ow...let me go!" Ayume said sending a spark of energy forcing him to let go. "So I see you have tapped into it somehow. Good, that power will be useful when you fight." Cronos said pointing to Ayume. "Fight? No! I won't fight! I can't...!" Ayume fell on her knees freaking out. "You must be included in this tournament. You can not refuse it." Cronos said reminding her. "Shut the hell up!" Ayume screamed.
Ayume's eyes snapped open instantly and she found herself covered in a blanket and with an ice pack on her forehead with Bakuryu holding her gently. "You began to sweat. So I got an ice pack for you." Bakuryu said. "What the? He isn't here anymore..." Ayume said breathing softly. "Who?" Bakuryu asked. "The pheonix zoanthrope. He has been getting inside my head somehow." Ayume explained. "I think he is one of the guys who is hosting this tournament." she finished as she laid her head against Bakuryu's shoulder. "You think you can get some rest?" Bakuryu asked placing a hand on Ayume's cheek. "Yeah..." She said as she fell back asleep. The plane ride was only about a few hours. Right when the plane landed on a runway; there were two people waiting for Ayume and Bakuryu. The others haven't arrived yet. Bakuryu walked to the escalators while Ayume was behind him. "This is the place..." Bakuryu said. "This doesn't look too suspicious." Ayume said with a smile. The two people approached them with a smile. "I see you've come for the tournament." One man said with short silver hair and pale blue eyes. He was the same man Ayume talked to in her dreams. The other man looked older and large but muscular for his age, he had blue grey eyes and long grey hair.
"You must be Bakuryu, and this woman must have to be Ayume." the man said, "My name is..." "Cronos. Right?" Ayume asked a little blunt. "Yes, that is my name how did you know?" Cronos asked pleasantly. "Lucky guess." Ayume lied. "My name is Ganesha, please, let us help you with you luggage. We have the castle to stay at." Ganesha said. "Some wierd ass people we're meeting..." Ayume thought. "What is going on with these zoanthropes popping up everywhere?" Bakuryu thought. As the four drove up to the castle. King Orion was in the dining room talking with his servants. "So tell me, how old are you Ayume?" Cronos asked with out any hint of curiosity. "Sorry, a lady doesn't tell age or her weight." Ayume said sarcastically. "Oh I'm sorry." Cronos smiled cheerfully. "Okay this happy thing has gone on long enough..." Bakuryu thought as he didn't speak. "Stop with the god damn smiling, it's driving me insane here." Ayume thought as she looked from left to right. The castle halls were long but furnished properly. Many people were going on and about inside the castle halls. "This place seems busy, hey Cronos why are you here?" Ayume asked. "I am a prince here." Cronos said simply.
"A prince?" Ayume asked stupidly in surprise. "This is just great...now we got a prince zoanthrope." She thought. "What's the matter Ayume? Why are you so shocked?" Cronos asked. "Oh it's not that I am shocked, it's just for a prince I thought you would wear something a bit more royalty like." Ayume said not even giving a glance towards Cronos. "Many people think that around here." Cronos said just as he showed Bakuryu his quarters. Ayume was then showed hers. "Bakuryu..." she murmured, "I don't like this one bit. This Cronos person he doesn't seem so bad at all, well for now..."