Talking with Sage and the others, Ryo suddenly stopped when he felt someone's presence, it was strange, it felt so strong, almost overpowering for the small room, but at the same time there was a calm safe feeling to the presence. Ryo glanced up at the door, and was surprised to see the new girl standing there looking startled. Somehow he knew this presence came from her, but he was surprised and unsure of what to think. The only other people he could sense this strongly were the guys and the warlords. Avatre spoke up then, snapping Ryo from his thoughts, he nodded his head toward her when Sage introduced him, and then grabbed some targets. For the next thirty minutes or so went fast, and before he knew it, it was time to spar. Getting ready, Sage came over, "remember, take it easy on her, we can't-" he started. "Don't worry Sage, I won't be too hard on her, she's not a demon after all." Ryo replied as he walked back into the ring.

The match started slowly, both opponents circling each other, trying to find an opening in the others defense. Suddenly Ryo attacked, 'wow, she's fast' he thought, as she blocked all of his attacks. Continuing to press the attack, Ryo almost didn't manage to block Avatre's kick, as she suddenly went on the attack. Ryo continued blocking her kicks and punches until she got him with a fake roundhouse, turning sidekick. Realizing too late that he had fallen for it, Ryo was unable to block the sidekick. Getting drilled in the chest, he was knocked out of the ring, and barely able to keep his balance. 'She kicks like a mule' he thought. 'I obviously can't take it as easy on her as I thought. Ryo walked back into the ring slowly, taking the time to watch Avatre and get a feel for her movement "I'm not glass, I won't break, so you'll have to try harder then that!" she challenged him. Nodding slightly, Ryo went on the attack, moving too fast for most people to react. Ryo was once again surprised when she was able to keep up with him. The match continued like this, neither getting many hits on the other before Sage called a halt. Only slightly short of breath and tired, Ryo was again surprised to see that Avatre barely showed any signs that they had just fought such an intense match.

Heading into the locker room with the guys, Ryo was lost in though about this girl. "Did you guys notice how fast she moved?" Kento asked the other three. "Yeah, she was able to keep up with Ryo easily, but I've never seen anyone who can keep up with him like that except for one of us." Cye replied. "Yeah, she was fast, and she hit like a mule!" Ryo replied, finally joining the conversation. "I was barely holding back." He finished. "You didn't use any of the 'abilities' we get from you know what did you?" Rowen asked concerned. "Nope, but that's about all that I didn't use." He answered. "Hey did you guys notice that she didn't seem to tired after that fight?" Ryo asked. "Yeah, that was strange, I mean the fight was so intense, you guys hardly broke apart, and it lasted for a long time too. You don't see that kind of endurance in most people." Rowen paused. "Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever seen that kind of endurance in a normal person." He finished.

"Well let's get changed, and head home. We can discuss this more there when Sage will be able to join in, see what he has to say about this. All I know is that I get a weird feeling about this girl, I mean there's something different about her." Ryo suggested, walking into the locker room. "By different, you're thinking the Dynasty?" Rowen asked. "I dunno, maybe, but lets not talk about it here ok."

A mere thirty minutes later the guys were at home. "Hey Mia, can you come down here?" Cye called out, wanting her input in the conversation. "Sure, I'll be right down!" she replied. Everyone grabbed a seat except Kento, who ran into the kitchen to grab a snack while they were all waiting for Mia to join them. Kento walked back into the room and grabbed a seat, just as Mia walked down the stairs. "Hey guys, what's up?" she asked as she grabbed a seat. "Well we met a new girl at school today, and she came to Sage's families' dojo, but there's something strange about her, and we wanted to get your input." Ryo began. "Ok, so let me know what's so strange about her?" Mia asked.

"I guess I'll start first, since I met her first. This morning I ran into her, and when I grabbed her hand to help her up and made eye contact with her, I had the strangest feeling, like I was in a sudden storm. As soon as I turned away and let do of her hand the feeling went away, but every time she enters a room I notice this feeling, it's like a presence coming from her, but it's strong. Stronger then any normal person's presence, it almost reminds me of the presence that the guys have, or the warlords," Ryo said. "And when we fought at the dojo, she moved fast, almost as fast as I can move and she's strong too." He finished. "Really" Mia said thoughtfully.

"I'll go next." Sage said. "I first say her in first period, which was after Ryo ran into her I believe." He paused here, looking at Ryo for confirmation before continuing. "When she walked into the room, I also felt a presence, like Ryo said, but what really surprised me was two things, one, I had that same feeling of being caught in a storm when I made eye contact with her, and two I saw an aura around her. It was dark purple and strong. I've only seen auras like that around other armor bearers, or those associated with the dynasty and the ancient. Then after lunch she ran into me, and fell down causing her to lose her books and papers. I was helping her pick them up, and I glanced at a couple I had in my hands, she has a drawing of Ryo's armors, I didn't get a chance to look at the other ones before she grabbed them from me, looking surprised or alarmed and blushing. Once she grabbed them she took off as fast as she could. Then at the dojo today it was just like Ryo said. She was definitely a match for him, at least without the 'abilities' the armor gives up. He barely scored any hits on her, and vice versa. Plus when she was done fighting, she barely showed any signs that she had just got done fighting such and intense match for so long." He explained.

"Interesting, what about you guys?" Mia asked the other three. "I don't think any of us have had any run ins with her, but we did sense her presence like Ryo and Sage, and whet they said about her fighting Ryo. I've only ever seen sparring matches like that between up." Rowen said, looking at Cye and Kento who nodded in agreement. "Oh and she seemed a little jumpy around us, especially Ryo and Sage." He stated as an afterthought.

"That is strange, do you think she could be linked to the dynasty somehow?" she asked. "That's all I can think of, but she hasn't done anything either, and the dynasty creeps don't usually wait patiently to let us know about them, and we haven't hear anything from Kyra or the other warlords, and they are keeping a lookout for any trouble from the dynasty." Sage replied. "Let's see what we can find out before we jump to conclusions. We'll watch her for anything suspicious and see what we find, but we have to be sure to not let our guards down around he, at least not until we are sure we can trust her." Ryo said.

"What if we became her friends?" Kento asked. The room went quiet, everyone looking at Kento with varying levels of surprise evident. "What?!" Kento asked sheepishly, smiling nervously at the looks the others gave him. "You actually had a good idea!" Rowen replied, teasing Kento. " HEY!" He yelled out indignantly. "Rowen's right though Kento, that is a good idea, but she's jumpy around us, and we don't want to scare her or anything." Sage replied. "Well I think it should be either Ryo or Sage." Cye said. "But you guys just pointed out how she's jumpier around us, and we don't want to scare her off." Ryo replied. Yes, but she has already met and talked to both of you, and you guys would have something to talk to her about, what with Sage's family owning the dojo, and her fighting and training with you." Cye pointed out. "Good point Cye, but I think it should be Ryo." Sage replied. "Why me?" he asked. "Because, you're more approachable and friendly than Sage is, plus she seemed to be intimidated by Sage. Finally I think you two will hit it off better which we want." Rowen pointed out. All the others nodded in agreement. "Besides, you are our fearless leader." Rowen teased. "Ok, so then I'll approach her tomorrow in school, but what are we supposed to talk about?" Ryo asked. "Maybe mention doing some extra training together or something like that." Sage said.

"Well with that settled, I have more research to do. I haven't found anything yet about a warrior of spirit, but there are a few more places I plan on looking, and I found some more of my grandfather's noted that I hadn't seen before. I just have to decode them. I suggest you all work on your homework, it's getting kinda late." Mia said, heading up to the library.

(Line Break)

Avatre walked the short distance home, having turned down the use of the car and driver her dad had offered. She didn't want to draw too much attention to herself. She didn't want people to pretend to be her friends just because of her dad's money, and connections like at her last home. Arriving at home, Avatre headed up the long drive to the large manor, the gate having been left open. Walking through the door, she took of her shoes and coat, only to have a maid come out to quickly grab them and put them away. "Thanks Miniko." She said, as she headed to her fathers office.

"Hi dad." She called out, running up to him and giving him a huge hug. "Hello sweetie, how was your first day of school?" he asked. "It was ok," she said. "Just ok? Well I'm sure it will get better, just give it some more time. How did it go at the dojo?" he asked. "It was fun, I worked with sensei Dates grandson, and some of his friends. They wanted to see how I was with my technique and then we did some sparring. " She replied with a smile. "I hope you weren't to hard on the poor kids." "I wasn't, actually the guy I sparred was pretty good, he was able to keep us with me easily, I think I'll get some good competition again" She said, her smile getting even bigger, and brighter, and her eyes light up with excitement. "Well good, I'm glad to hear that." He dad said with laughter in his voice at her excitement. "Well go and get some dinner, and then do your homework, and don't stay up too late tonight. You need a good nights sleep for tomorrow, remember you have that meeting with my old Sensei to see if he will take over your weapons training, and then dinner with the family tomorrow night."

"Ok dad, I won't, I'll come home in enough time to get ready."

"That's my girl! You know I think this move has been good for you, you seem more relaxed then you have for a long time, even though I know it was tough to leave the states. I love you."

"Thanks dad I love you too." Avatre picked up her bag from where it hah fallen on the floor, and ran upstairs to her room. It was a nice room, very large; the walls were painted a light, golden tan shade, he king sized bed was on the wall opposite her door, it had a burgundy colored comforter with little golden designs all over it. Against the wall to her left was an entertainment center with a nice TV and all her other electronics, and movies. There were a couple of plush chairs, and a futon facing the TV. To her right was her desk with her computer and laptop on it, and just to the right of the desk was a large glass door that opened out to the balcony. Avatre felt her feet sink into he plush burgundy carpet as she walked toward her desk to finish her homework. A couple hours later, Avatre was done with her homework and had grabbed a small dinner. She was up in her room drawing when she found herself thinking about Ryo. His wild black hair, his fiery, tiger blue eyes, his strong arms and hands, the strange feeling she had when she grabbed his hand early that morning. Suddenly the phone rang, snapping her out of her daydream. When she glanced down at her drawing, her pencil dropping from suddenly still fingers. She was looking at a picture of the same boy she had just been thinking about. She didn't even remember drawing it. She hadn't done something like that for a long time, no since drawing those armors. Shrugging to herself, Avatre got up and went to bed, it was getting a little late, and she would have more time to think about this later.

AN: sorry about the long wait, but between work, TKD training and then the subsequent torn ACL and surgery, I've been pretty busy.