Lighters

by Fezzgator

Out on a job for the mayor, Michiru is pulled away from her world and dumped in one that, at least on the surface, is paradise. Along with a cranky chimera who hates monsters, a girl who barely talks and a group of misfits displaced from across time and space Michiru will try to find her place. Plus crossovers with Slayers!, Xenogears, Final Fantasy 6, Escaflowne and more!

16. Chapter 16

"Hello Ms. Kanzaki…I mean, Kanzaki-san. I was told…you could help me?"

Looking up from her desk, Hitomi saw standing before her desk a lovely young woman, her soft features framed by lovely dark green hair held in a high ponytail highlighted by a pair of caring blue eyes. The girl's outfit was less than conventual, a short red dress, red bracers and boots accented by a light purple sash and shoulder pads. Honestly, if they had been on Gaia, no one would have given the girl a second glance.

As attention grabbing as the girl's appearance was, Hitomi noted it was marred by worry. The poor girl in front of her was nervous, scarred even. It showed in how the girl stood, her shoulders sunk and one hand holding the upper arm of the other protectively.

It was exactly as Hitomi imagined she had looked when she had first been brought to this world.

Standing, Hitomi gently replied "Yes, that's right. Here." Then stepping around her desk, Hitomi stood in front of the newest lighter and without permission, wrapped her arms around the greenette, embracing the other girl with all the warmth she could muster as she whispered "It'll be alright. I'm here for you…"

After a moment of surprise, the other girl at first relaxed the tension in her body before returning the embrace as she began to sob. Moving a hand up to the younger woman's head, Hitomi gently stroked the other's head as the tears began to stain her business suit's top. After what seemed like an hour but was really only a few minutes of crying, the other girl began to quiet. Hitomi took that as a chance to ask "May I ask your name?"

Sniffling, the greenette took a moment to gather herself but did not let go as she answered, her voice hoarse and broken "T, Terra. My n, name is…Terra Branford."

"Well, Terra, you're safe now." Hitomi assured the poor displaced girl "We'll take care of you and help you any way we can."

"Thank…"

"…you…."

"Hitomi…"

"…Hitomi…"

"Hitomi?"

"Yes!? I'm so sorry Terra, what were you saying?" The brunette counselor said jumping abit as if she had just spaced out. The two of them were walking along the sidewalk, coming to an intersection on Terra's first day out on the town since coming to this world.

A light giggle escaping Terra's lips as she briefly held her hand up to hide it before she repeated "its ok Hitomi, I was just saying how amazing this place is. I remember visiting the capital of the empire, the most advanced city in the world, covered in iron, nothing green anywhere in sight. I remember thinking how empty, how cold it was. As though people had everything they needed but nothing they wanted. It felt…hollow. Not here though. This place is so vibrant. So diverse. So ALIVE. Heh, you must think me pretty silly. Sorry Hitomi."

Hitomi listened, a smile growing as her charge spoke, each word seeming to confirm just how much of a kindred spirit the greenette truly was. When Terra was finished, Hitomi waved off the apology, answering "No need to apologize Terra. Its funny you should say that actually. I once had a very similar experience as I escaped the capital of Zaibach. It was actually pretty similar to the-TERRA? WHAT ARE YOU DOING!"

In the middle of their conversation, stopped now at the intersection, Terra had suddenly darted out into the street at oncoming traffic. Hitomi had been so wrapped up in her own nostalgia that she had missed entirely that a young boy had tripped and fallen in the street, a large truck heading straight for him, seeming unaware of the child or the need to stop.

Before Hitomi knew it, Terra had thrown herself forward, cradling the child and rolling just as the truck blew past them, honking its horn in frustration or surprise, no one knew. As soon as it was safe, Hitomi dashed across the crosswalk to the gathering crowd that had formed around the two. Terra had just handed the child off to his shocked and extremely grateful mother when the counselor called out "Terra! I…I can't believe it, you, you saved that boy. I'm so sorry I wasn't paying attention."

The green-haired young woman, now with a number of scrapes, several bleeding, simply smiled as she watched the reunited family thank her one more time as they walked away. Returning the wave, Terra turned back to Hitomi and replied "Its ok Hitomi. I can't imagine this kind of thing happens all the time, I was just the first to see him, that's all so I did what needed to be done. That's all."

Partly from shock and partly from awe of the younger woman's bravery, Hitomi was left starring at the previously gentle looking girl, now dirtied and bleeding. Finally, Hitomi said "Terra, you're a h…"

"You're a…"

"You're a…"

"You're an esper? I'm sorry Terra, I'm not sure what you mean." Hitomi asked as she sat in her traditional seat across from Terra, in her session room.

The poor girl looked like she had just admitted her deepest, darkest secret, her lower lip trembling as she fidgeted with her hands, unable to look Hitomi in the eye. The counselor patiently waited for Terra to answer. This was the greenette's evaluation session after all, so it was important to be especially patient. Finally, Terra steadied herself enough to continue "Well, I'm technically half-esper. Or, at least, I was."

"That still doesn't really answer my question." Hitomi gently reminded her patient.

Taking a deep breath, Terra began again "I'm sorry Hitomi, your, your right. In my world, espers were beings of pure magic and since I am half-esper, I can naturally use magic, that's where my fire comes from. Then, I later learned I could transform into another form entirely, my esper form. It was powerful, dangerous and at first I couldn't control it."

"I couldn't help but notice you using the past tense there, Terra. What happened?" Hitomi pointed out, her curiosity quickly building inside her.

Continuing to fidget, Terra answered with a sense of trepidation "Y, yes. Magic itself was lost and with it, my esper form. It had been so hard coming to terms with what I was, Hitomi. Afraid of myself, pursued by others who feared me or wanted to use me…it was almost liberating when magic was gone and I remained. Now, I'm here and theres magic here. All the spells I could use have returned."

"And you think your esper form may return as well?" Hitomi ventured

"No, there isn't nearly enough magic here to sustain that form. But Hitomi, I wanted to tell you because its been such a big part of my life. It's caused me to suffer and so I wanted you to know that if we're going to be having these talks. Please promise me you won't tell Jun, or anyone else. I want to keep that part of my life behind me. I…want to look forward."

That was a big ask. Hitomi was supposed to record and report just this sort of thing to Jun and the commission to help them assess any risk lighters might pose to the public safety. Still, Hitomi had quickly grown very close to Terra since they'd met. Seeing the pleading, pained look on the woman across from her, Hitomi did what may have been against her better judgement but in the moment felt like the right thing to do. Nodding, Hitomi slowly said "Yes. Ok Terra. I can do that for you. I will keep your confidence."

Some of the weight that seemed to be pressing on the greenette appeared to lift as Terra straightened her shoulders, a hopeful smile on her face. "Thank you, Hitomi. Truly, you don't know how much this means to me…"

Hitomi stood up to reach across the distance between them to offer comfort. Terra saw the gesture and reached out as well. As the two hands were about to meet, Terra suddenly pulled back, gripping her head, as if in pain. The greenette began to scream a horrifying, piercing scream that drowned out Hitomi's pleas to find out what was wrong.

Then, Terra looked up, her blue eyes wild with anger and pain as she yelled "WHY! WHY DID YOU LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN! I…I TRUSTED YOU HITOMI!AHHHH!"

Standing there powerless, Hitomi could only watch as first Terra's hair, followed by her whole head seemed to be lit ablaze in purple fire. As the former greenette thrashed about, her entire body was consumed by the eerie flames, her hands extending into claws that the monster Terra was becoming used to claw feverishly at the ground. The room slowly grew dark, until it was completely black and all that remained were the two of them. With no more ground to claw at, the burning creature that was once Terra screamed to the heavens, her claws slowly reaching up to her own neck.

Hitomi tried to reach out, tried to call out but found herself unable to move or speak. All she could do was watch on in horror. Hitomi's charge, her friend, had become consumed and transformed into the monster Hitomi had promised to hide from the world. Then, that same monster began to choke herself. Moments dragged on for what felt like eternity as the labored breathes of the purple flamed creature became broken and horse. Hitomi could see the life leaving her friend and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

Finally, after trying over and over again to will her voice into existence, just as Hitomi could see Terra was about to snap her own neck, the councilor screamed "NNNOOOO!"

Shooting ramrod straight up in bed, her eyes wide, her brow covered in sweat, Hitomi starred forward at the opposite wall of her darkened room. Breathing heavily, the brunette began to look around to get her bearings. It had been a nightmare. Or perhaps a vision. It was rare that Hitomi had premonitions anymore since she avoided using her power to see the future. Even when it had hapopened, none had been so intense as this.

Today was the day the new lighters we going to see Terra at the hospital after training and the odds that this nightmare had happened just before that trip were…slim. Should she cancel the trip? Should she ask for extra security? Should she say nothing at all? Was this a vision at all, or just a realization of the guilt that still plagued her?

Looking at her phone, it was still early but not too early to call Jun. Saying nothing had been the wrong call before. She wasn't going to make the same mistake twice.

(X)

"Thank you, please come again!"

Working at a convince store sucked. All sorts of weirdos came in for all sorts of things and most could barely be bothered to look you in the eye let alone use even a shred of common courtesy. As a new employee, Kazuomi, a twenty-two-year-old college drop out, had drawn the morning shift. This meant relieving the previous shift at the twenty-four hour store at an ungodly four in the morning. It was tedious. It was boring and just when you were ready to go home is when it really got busy. It sucked.

But the job was money in the bank and while Kazuomi tried to figure his life out, he could at least work up to a mid-afternoon shift, when all the cute high school girls came around. Kazuomi was occupied by that most mature of thoughts when a gentlemen in an impeccable purple suit appeared before him. The odd-looking guy (at least he thought it was a guy) didn't appear to have anything to buy so what did he want? "Uh, good morning sir. Is…there something I can help you with?"

The purple-suited customer smiled the fakest smirk the convenience store worker had ever seen before the gentlemen answered "Oh my, yes! I would greatly appreciate it if I could have all the money in your till, if you please?"

Oh. Oh shit. The boss had warned him of this. There had been a string of robberies lately and Kazuomi honestly hadn't cared at all while his boss had explained. He had a morning shift. Nothing ever happened early in the morning, so why should he have to care? As the purple-suited robber raised his hand, his fingers up and held to look like a gun, the tip of which began glowing, Kazuomi very much cared.

As the terrified cashier began to open the register to empty its contents, three more men Kazuomi had somehow missed in the store before appeared behind the purple-suited assailant. Two of them grabbed the robber's arms, one to each arm, while the third spoke, calmly, though arrogantly "And just what do you think you're doing? We can't have you robbing this fine young man, now can we?"

Were…were these underground heroes? Was he saved? Had they known he was going to be here and just let him get threatened like this? Oh, it didn't matter now, did it? Relief clear in his voice Kazuomi exclaimed "Oh, thank you so much! I never thought heroes would be in my store like this! Your timing is perfect!"

Putting his no longer glowing hand down, the purple suited attempted robber smirked despite his circumstances and informed the employee "Oh my, no young man. You really should get out more if you think these three are heroes!"

His eyes going wide, Kazuomi could only manage a dumbfounded "What?"

Sure enough, the three men, now that Kazuomi got a good look at them all had a certain…thuggish quality to them, an image helped by the fact that they started chuckling. A moment later, the door chime sounded and as the automatic doors slid open, a most unusual figure stepped into the store. The young man featured short, dark red hair, white gloves and a long, stylized plaque mask. Flanked by two other equally oddly dressed people also in masks, the odd man came to stand behind the original three and stated matter-of-factly "So you're the one whose been hitting our targets before we could. I am, frankly, very displeased we had to put so much effort into catching you. You'll be coming with me, robber-san."

After the two thugs spun the would-be robber around to face their leader, the purple-suited gentleman calmly, almost cheerfully replied "Oh my, if it isn't the new leader of the Shie Hassaikai himself! Was little old me muscling into your territory? I'm terribly sorry about that."

Kai Chisaki's eyes narrowed but remained calm in the face of such disrespect. He knew full well he would need to keep things clean if he wanted to avoid close scrutiny from authorities. With a nudge of the crime lord's head, the two thugs nodded and began shoving their prisoner out of the store, eventually making their way to a nearby alleyway. The remaining thug made eye contact with his leader before nodding as well and turned back to the cashier.

Briefly optimistic he may get out of this, Kazuomi sagged his shoulders when the remaining thug pulled an actual gun on him. Residing himself to his fate, the dropout muttered "Yeah, yeah, I got it" as he moved to start handing all the money in the register to his newest robber.

In the meantime, Kai and his entourage left the store and made his way to the alleyway where his guest was waiting, a bit more rough for wear than before. As the red-haired leader of the Shie Hassaikai came to stand in front of the interloper, Kai noted that the purple-haired thief still had a smile on his blood-stained lips. When his prisoner looked up at him, the mask wearing yakuza was struck by his piercing purple eyes that appeared to cut right through him, despite the smile he still wore. Kai had been planning to simply kill his man right here, but now…now he was curious "Tell me, robber-san, what do you think of this world of ours? This world of heroes?"

The two subordinates flanking Kai looked surprised by the question. To the yakuza leader's left stood Toya Setsuno, a tall, slender young man with blonde hair that ran long in the front and wearing a purple dress shirt and pink tie to go along with his narrow and arched mask arched an eyebrow. To the right stood Shin Nemoto, another slender man, though you'd be hard pressed to know that under the black cape, long black baggy pants he wore to go with the black bowler hat, goggles and fairly short plague mask, completely concealing the shock on his face.

The answer from the bruised and bleeding robber was labored but swift "This world has taken…everything from me. I loathe it."

The yakuza leader betrayed no reaction to the answer he received, though the fact that he asked another spoke volumes to those around him. "Interesting. You would see this world of ours torn down?"

Without hesitation, the beaten man spoke low but sure "It is my fondest wish. My reason for being."

Toya and Shin looked at each other as their leader continued to stare down at the loathsome excuse for a thief, knowing well where this was going. Finally the signal came as Kai raised his right hand and snapped his gloved hand. Shin stepped forward as the masked red-head spoke evenly "You intrigue me, Robber-san. How fortunate that we would cross paths, we who share a loathing of this twisted world of ours. Still, though I have decided not to kill you just yet, I have some questions I need answered. Your responses will determine your fate."

As Shin took another step forward to get close to the thief, the purple-suited prisoner's smile never waivered as Kai soke one more time. "This is Shin, he is excellent at information gathering. I think you'll find his questions quite irresistible. Proceed."

With a nod, Shin began with one of several questions they had planned to ask before killing this fool originally. "Who have you been working for, thief?"

The answer was immediate, the beaten man spoke almost in a monotone, as if he was under some sort of mind control "I am my own master now. I work for no one but myself."

"Hmm, impressive, fool. Then, how is it you knew what stores we were planning to hit? It surely was no coincidence that you always beat us to it?" came Shin's response.

"After saving enough money from petty thief, I bought information. When that ran dry, I started bribing members of your group directly." The thief replied.

That was a revelation on several levels and the three masked men exchanged glances before Shin continued "Is that so? It almost sounds like you were courting our attention on purpose. Is that so?"

"I was. Once I had heard about your plans, what your mission was, I knew the Shie Hassaikai was where I wanted to be." Came the quirk induced answer from the robber.

Shin glanced again at his leader. This time though, the red-head was laser focused on this most odd man before them. Turning his focus back to the task at hand, Shin asked the last of the preplanned questions "And what of the money? If the robberies were to get our attention, you must still have it, yes?"

Despite the compulsion to answer induced by Shin's quirk, there was a glint in the purple-suited robber's eyes "I still have some of it, but most is gone."

Frowning under his mask, Shin didn't dare look back at his master this time, instead opting to follow up with "And what, exactly, did you spend so much money on?"

"What I needed to survive in this world. A hotel room to live, this lovely suit and the like. I also put out a hit on someone. That wasn't cheap."

This time Shin could feel his master's gaze on him, likely his leader's impatient curiosity. It was no trouble at all to guess what question his master wanted asked. "You…put out a hit on someone? Who? Who did you mark for death that you wouldn't kill yourself?"

"One of the lighters. Terra Branford. You misunderstand. I didn't hire assassins because I didn't want to do it myself. It was just cleaner this way. I have already lost everything once, this way I won't risk my mission while also sending the message I wanted to. I do hope that was ok."

That was certainly a red flag. The lighters were well known in the media and the one he mentioned had been all over the news recently after she went on a berserk rampage in a shopping mall. Drawing unwanted attention just as they were beginning their plan would be unwise "You have to know how risky a move that was. You expect us to allow someone to join us that could bring unwanted scrutiny?"

"I expect you to let someone who has covered his track to join you. I have already seen to it that the two thugs I hired will be taken care of." Came the honest reply of the would-be robber.

Such arrogance! "You expect me to believe that-" Shin started but was cut off when his master raised his hand, silencing his top subordinate.

As Shin stepped back, Kai motioned for the two lackeys to release the bloodied gentleman. Without prompting, the thief knelt on one knee before his new master as the yakuza leader spoke again "I have heard enough. I shall grant you acceptance into my family. See to you that you continue to earn your place in the home you seem to have worked so hard to enter. Do not disappoint me."

His head bowed, the newest member of the Shie Hassaikai replied with reverence in his voice "Yes, Chisaki-sama. I will not fail you. I will lend you my many talents in the destruction of this world."

(X)

For Michiru, the last few days had been, well, nice. The tanuki girl had had few of what she would consider good days. Sure, there were moments here and there where she was happy but so often that happiness was tempered by threats on her life, stressful situations or just the near constant existential dread that came with wondering if she would ever make it back home.

Still, since beginning training for the provisional license exam, life had been busy and constant. Two things that, when paired together, worked wonders for keeping one occupied and giving a sense of progress. All while distracting Michiru from the fact that not only were there other worlds out there, but that she was in one. One filled to the brim with people with strange and exciting powers, for better and for worse.

Each day started with training, which was fun and exciting, not to mention Michiru felt like she was getting close to something involving her powers. Whether or not it was possible to express two different animal characteristics at the same time, the tanuki girl didn't know. What Michiru did know was that Nazuna could, at the very least sprout wings from her back. And if her foxy friend could do it, that meant she could too! At the very least it would free up Michiru's hands while flying.

Then, after training, most everyone would go to the dining hall together to hang out, where Michiru got to know more members of 1-A. They were such an interesting and diverse group that had already seen their share of action Michiru came to learn. For the most part Michiru hung out with the girls of 1-A. Though none of them were quite as athletic as herself aside from Mina, it was clear they all wanted to be heroes, something Michiru appreciated greatly. Back home Nazuna would tell her she was just butting in whenever Michiru jumped in to help, an unwanted interloper. Here though, here she was among people who felt like she did, a bright spot in an otherwise seemingly impossible situation.

Michiru had also dragged Emeralda along with her, making sure the quiet girl wasn't eating by herself in the corner, left to be ogled by Minoru. The greenette never objected and would answer any question that came her way in her serious and straightforward way but otherwise kept to herself. Each day one girl or another would try to get Emeralda to come over for the girl's night Mina had suggested the first day, to no avail. Each time, the tan girl would decline, citing training with the tailed martial artist. Said blonde boy would be among the other classmates who would sit in among the group during lunch, along with Izuku and Ida from time to time. Really, Michiru had gotten to talk to almost the entire class and she liked almost everyone, except that jackass Katsuki and the perv.

After lunch the lighters would part ways with 1-A for lectures from Jun in the afternoon, which wasn't the most exciting part of the day but was still important. Plus, it was fun watching the other two lighters learn more about this world that was so similar and yet so different from Michiru's own.

Afterwards was dinner, something they each now contributed to as part of a rotation with the other inhabitants of the lighter house. Zelgadis was surprisingly competent in the kitchen. Emeralda…was not. Once dinner was over, Emeralda would head off for her sparing with Mashirao, something that was still the subject of rumors among 1-A even though Michiru tried her best to assure the heroes-in-training it was just sparring. Just to be sure though, Michiru had dragged Zelgadis out to covertly watch over them the first night.

The nights…the nights were largely the same. Alone. With her thoughts. Always the night brought the thoughts of home. Of her parents, all her friends in Anima City…and that cure. Every time Shirou had asked about it, Michiru was adamant that she was happy the way she was, but that was so easy to say when the cure, the choice was right there at arm's reach. Here, it didn't matter what she looked like or what weird powers she had. Was it wrong to be happy about that? Could that happiness make up for the guilt…

Nighttime's aside, today was set to be special. The lighters were going to get to leave UA property to visit a hospital, which admittedly wasn't Michiru favorite of places to visit but it was getting outside!. That was for later though, because first thing in the morning, Power Loader delivered the lighter trio's new hero costumes. Michiru had nearly ripped the package away from the poor shirtless hero before he could hand it to her. Michiru offered a rushed if earnest thanks and rushed back to her room, dropping off Zelgadis' and Emeralda's packages along the way. The costume was amazing, conforming snugly to her form without any discomfort because of her fur. The red eye-like markings looked as cool as she thought with the silver swirls adding character to the otherwise black body-suit. With the red-short-sleeved jacket, Michiru felt ready to kick some villain ass!

When the trio met down stairs after breakfast, Michiru got her first look at the other two in their costumes. Zelgadis basically looked exactly as he did the day he arrived save for his more athletic, modern shoes and on close inspection, the cloth was some synthetic material surely less prone to damage than the simple woolen material the original was made of. The chimera was clearly pleased and at ease, back in his old attire. The grumpy chimera even took the time to thank Emeralda for helping in the recreation.

Speaking of her fellow morpher, Michiru was surprised that the greenette's costume was as much of a departure from her original outfit as it turned out to be. The same light red overall color was there but like Michiru, the outfit was now a one-piece jumpsuit, the legs ending midthigh, replacing her old skirt. In place of the black bar that ran up her old top, bisecting it was now the cross design from her pendent emblazoned on her chest in silver. Combined with the ever-present arm braces and scarf Emeralda struck a very heroic appearance. Michiru was impressed and just a little bit jealous at how cool her friend looked.

1-A seemed to think so too, showering the tan girl with compliments, even more so when Michiru let it slip Emeralda had also done the concept art for all three of their outfits. Michiru got compliments on her hero attire too, but she was happy to see her friend get told how awesome she was.

Zelgadis' outfit was met with less fanfare, since the chimera had done nothing to endear himself to most of the class. Denki did say out loud he thought the blue-skinned sorcerer looked more like he was ready for a Ren Faire than hero work. Michiru had to hold Zelgadis back from hitting the electric blonde with a fireball as she quietly explained what a Ren Faire was and how it was actually not far off the mark.

Now, though, Michiru sat still, cross-legged, her new red jacket off and eyes closed in an attempt to focus and see if she could, in fact, sprout wings from her back. Ectoplasm had suggested it since neither of them really knew how her powers truly worked. The trench-coated clone stood by as the tanuki girl struggled to keep her mind on the task at hand. The constant noise from the other students was making it very difficult for the poor girl to focus on anything at all though. Chief among the offenders was Katsuki, who kept boasting about being close to something as he kept trying to perfect some new attack he had been working on.

For the last few minutes though things had become relatively calm. With the quiet, Michiru began to relax and remember back to her home world, to the fox girl with the pink and white fur. A subtle smile played on the tanuki girl's lips as her thoughts turned not to her best friend's morphing but to all the pleasant memories thinking about her brought to the surface. This had been the problem Michiru was having, trying to think on and focus on what her lost friend could do without thinking about Nazuna herself. With the constant interruptions, this cycle just kept repeating, this time with Katsuki calling out from the pillar he was practicing on "Hey! Zooey! You taken a nap! If you're not up for training, you should turn tail and get the hell outta here!"

Ectoplasm whispered to Michiru "You should ignore him, Kagemori. I'm sure my other clone will calm him."

Michiru nodded, her eyes still closed though her expression had settled into a light frown upon the latest distraction. Unfortunately, her Ectoplasm clone couldn't be aware that Katsuki had defeated his just a moment earlier and the fiery dirty blonde called out again, displeased at apparently being ignored "HEY! I'm talking to you, flea bag! You need to get in gear, ya hear me!"

That had done it. Michiru had survived hunters, slave traders, berserk beastmen, saved a city, been ripped from her world and faced off against this world's greatest villain and lived. She wasn't going to take being insulted by some hot-headed punk anymore! Balling her fists as she shot up and ran to the edge of her own pillar, Michiru angrily called back "HEY! Mind your own damn business! Maybe if you weren't so damn focused on other people, you wouldn't have had to be saved by your classmates!"

The Ectoplasm clone moved to interject but paused as he noted with each righteous word Michiru yelled back, two small bulges seem to appear and steadily grow larger on the girl's back. In the meantime, Katsuki became truly incensed at the reference to his kidnapping, raising his gauntleted arm, his fist shaking in anger "WHAT DID YOU SAY?! DAMN FLEA BAG! At least I wasn't stupid enough to fight a battle I couldn't win! At least I didn't get anyone killed!"

Fire burning in her eyes at the thought of their loss of Xellos, followed by the repeat of that same insult that Michiru was basically taking as a slur, the tanuki girl screamed "STOP. CALLING. ME. FLEA BAG!"

"KAGEMORI!"

Hearing her name called, Michiru calmed enough to realize Katsuki wasn't saying anything. The blonde bomber was starring at her, surprise on his face. Turning to look at her trench-coated tutor, the clone said nothing as Michiru noticed feathers gently falling around her. Eyes widening, the tanuki girl first looked down at her arms, confirming that they were still her normal limbs. Then, slowly, she turned her head and a smile spread across her face. She had done it! She had wings on her back!

At first gently flapping them, Michiru began jumping about in celebration, her spat with Katsuki now all but forgotten. Realizing he was again being ignored, the blonde dismissively waved his hand as he uttered "Whatever" and went back to his own training.

Meantime, the clone Ectoplasm caught the jubilant morpher by the shoulder as she continued to dance about and gently but firmly said "Congratulations, Kagemori-san. Still, I must remind you to refrain from arguing with the other students. It would seem your abilities respond more to stress than focus. Remember that. Now, want to give those new wings a try?"

Somehow, the already excited tanuki girl managed to smile even wider as she furiously nodded her head. When the ectoplasm clone nodded and removed his hand, Michiru shot up into the air with a sudden and powerful thrust from her wings, dust and feathers left in her wake. Now high above the action below, the sight that had been common for the winged tanuki girl for days now felt somehow exciting and new as the euphoria of accomplishment flowed through her.

Michiru had been flying about just long enough to wave at Ochaco, who was floating nearby when the stern voice of Shouta rung out from below "Kagemori! I have someone here who wants to see you! Kasim and Greywards, too!"

Rolling her eyes, Michiru had no idea who could want to see them during their training. Still, as much of a buzzkill though it may have been, the flying tanuki girl swung around and dove down toward where Eraserhead typically watched the students train. As she quickly approached, it was easy to make out the distinctive figures of her scarfed mentor in Jun and the skeletal man with the mop of wild blonde hair that was, until recently, the number one hero.

Slowing her decent twenty feet above the gathered teachers so as to not scare the hell out of them, Michiru noted Zelgadis floating in as well as Emeralda approaching from the ground. Michiru and Zelgadis ended up landing on either side of the tan greenette, who noted with a hint of satisfaction in her voice "You succeeded, Michiru. I am happy for you."

Zelgadis nodded in approval as well, adding "How'd you finally manage it? You whined about it after training all day yesterday."

Scrunching her face in annoyance at the way her chimeric friend phrased his question, Michiru nonetheless responded nonchalantly "Oh, it just turns out I need more of a push to really expand my abilities. You know, stress, life threatening situations and the like. I've never really been one for mediation anyway."

"Ahem."

"Hmm? Oh, right, sorry Aizawa-sensei, you wanted to see us?" Michiru spoke for the trio, a bit embarrassed, when the instructor drew them back to the fact that he was standing right in front of them.

Annoyed, Shouta bit out "Stop wasting my time. I called you three over because All Might here wanted to speak to you three. Be quick about it, you have work to do."

With that, Shouta stepped away. Michiru glanced over at Jun, who offered a reassuring nod before All Might…no, Toshinori Yagi spoke, his arm still in a sling from his epic final battle with All for One "It's been awhile you three. I haven't talked to you since the day you all came here. I know its been especially rough for you and for that I am deeply sorry." The former number one hero solemnly said.

The three lighters looked at one another but before any of them could acknowledge the apology, Toshinori continued "That being said, I know you were at Kamino. I know you saved Shadow Rider and I know that you choose to try and attack All for One. I…I can guess why you did it but I needed to tell you." The skeletal blonde paused, his voice breaking as his free hand balled into a fist before he continued "I needed to tell you…That WAS ONE OF THE STUIDEST THINGS YOU COULD HAVE EVER DONE! You needed to trust that we pros could do our jobs…"

Surprised by the sudden and passionate admonishment, none of the lighters were prepared when the dangerously thin man slapped each of them over the head with unexpected speed. Hitting Zelgadis last, Toshinori brought his arm back, pressing his aching hand to his chest as he indigently asked "Geez kid, what the hell are you made out of? Your head was so hard! Plus I think you hair poked me!"

A deadpan expression on his face, Zelgadis answered sarcastically "Rock. I'm made of rock, you damn oaf."

Looking a bit hurt, the retired blonde wouldn't let it go "And the hair?"

Rolling his eyes and getting annoyed at having to explain his body to another idiot "Wire, ok? Can we drop it?"

Michiru couldn't help but giggle abit at the exchange, as much to relieve the stress from just being yelled at as much as anything else. Emeralda offered a light smile herself. None of the people gathered, however, was paying attention as high above, Katsuki had just successfully executed his newest move, causing the top off a large rock to fall in the process. With their backs turned and distracted, none of the lighters saw the rock heading straight for the former number one hero and their mentor standing just next to him.

Between Katsuki calling for them to watch out, Shouta turning to warn them and the sudden surprise on Toshinori's face, the trio had only enough time to begin to turn and face whatever was happening. Then, a green clade flash seemed to shoot like a bullet right at the falling rock, before the word "SMMAASSHHH!" could be heard echoing across the gym as a mighty kick destroyed it.

As he landed, Izuku slide across the ground with his new reinforced shoes and was met with surprised looks from the lighters and Shouta, though his mentor had a satisfied smile despite the danger he was in just moments earlier. With the lighters looking on, Izuku stood up straight and began walking right to his mentor worriedly asking "You ok All Might? That was close."

All Might himself beamed with pride as he confirmed he was ok with a simple "Yeah" as Shouta looked on. A simple approving grunt the eraser hero's only acknowledgement of what had just transpired.

In the meantime, Denki and Eijiro had come over, curious to know what had just happened, the blonde electricity wielder asking, clearly impressed "Dude, Midoriya, what was that? You swooped in and wasted that rock!"

Eijiro adding with a grin "I always thought you were more of a puncher."

None of the three lighters had seen Izuku in a fight before as all three practiced out of sight of the freckled boy so none of them really had anything to add as they watched the conversation continue. With some excitement, likely from the adrenaline still pumping, Izuku answered "I am. Or, I was." Then, lifting up one of his feet, showing off the sole of his shoe, added "Its these new soles. Hatsume suggested them and I think they'll really up my game. Plus, Iida's been showing me how to use my body better, so my fighting style has changed. I've only just figured out which direction to go in. I still have a lot of work to do. Nothing I'd call an ultimate move yet."

Something the short greenette said, or didn't say, caught Emeralda's attention and felt compelled to ask "Does that mean you will continue to spy on Mashirao and I during our spars?"

Sputtering abit at the sudden charge, Izuku quickly began to turn red as he rubbed the back of his head, turning to face the tan girl "Oh! Heh, heh…you, uh, you noticed that huh? Yeah, I wanted to watch how actual martial artists kicked. S, sorry about that."

"It is fine." Emeralda coolly replied, then added "Besides, you are hardly alone in watching our bouts." As she said that, the amber-eyed girl made sure to look over at Denki, who suddenly jumped slightly before turning away, and innocently whistling. Then, looking out of the corner of her eye, Emeralda also added "Isn't that right, Michiru?"

Jun quickly called out a disappointed "Michiru, really?

With all eyes now on her, it was the tanuki girl's turn to look sheepish as she glanced away. Embarrassed, Michiru said "I'm sorry Emmy, I was just making sure everything was alright that first night. I didn't mean to insult you or anything!"

Looking to bring things back to the original subject, All Might interjected "spying on Young Kasim notwithstanding, I think that based on that kick, I'd say you're further along than you think, Young Midoriya. So, you should be ready for this test."

Izuku turned back to his mentor, pleased to hear such encouraging words as Shouta came over to Toshinori to warn him "Hey All Might, its dangerous in here, you should be careful."

Offering an apologetic wave with his good hand, the emaciated former number one hero then turned to look up at Katsuki, who had been watching the whole exchange from on high, distain on his face as All Might called out "Sorry for the scare Young Bakugo."

There was an odd moment of silence as the blonde bomber seemed to let his hero's words sink in before Katsuki's face turned into an angry snarl and he let loose an explosion as he called out "You watch yourself, All Might!"

As Toshinori began to contemplate the fact that he was now truly one of the weak, left to be protected by all those still capable of fighting, Jun came up behind him. As the blonde older man starred at his hand, Jun leaned in and whispered "I hear you've been to see him. Is…that true All Might?"

Stiffening as the subject of his nemesis was brought up, Toshinori didn't move as he quietly answered "I have. He was quite secure if that's what you're asking, Sanada-san."

Pulling back and moving to stand beside the great former hero, Jun replied "Although that is reassuring to hear, that isn't why I asked."

Turning his head to look at the lighters mentor, Toshinori saw it in the other man's eyes instantly and knew what was about to come out of the other man's mouth as Jun continued "I…wanted to know what you thought the chances were of me getting to see him."

Jun's eyes were filled with barely contained rage and Toshinori knew that even if he could arrange such a meeting, he absolutely wouldn't do it. Jun effectively had everything torn away from him by All for One, each new lighter a fresh reminder of the hell wrought on him a decade prior. There was no doubt in Toshinori's mind that talking would likely be the last thing Jun had in mind if he was allowed to visit the fiend.

Left with little other choice, Toshinori had to tell the tortured soul beside him what was basically true as he started slowly, trying to let the other man down easy "Sanada-san…Jun. I'm sorry but even with my sway, it was very hard for me to get in to talk to him for the brief time that I did. I honestly don't know if I could do it again for me, let alone anyone else."

The response that came was calm, but it was obvious much stronger emotions were being kept in check when the former rescue hero said "Is that so? That's too bad. I…had several things I wished to convey to him. Still, I should be happy to finally have him in custody for the rest of his miserable life."

"Agreed" was all Toshinori could muster as Jun quickly stepped forward to talk to his students. As the other man raised his hand to get the kids attention, the former Symbol of Peace couldn't help but notice Jun's hand had been set in a tight fist that had been shaking before he released his fingers. Clearly, time couldn't heal all wounds and the weakened blonde silently hoped that one day the silver-haired younger man could find true peace.

The students were engaged in talking about their costumes when Jun walked up, waving his hand to get their attention just as Zelgadis was pointing out "Michiru, you just got those cloths and you've already put two holes in the back. Power Loader is not going to be happy. You can forget me going back there with you to explain it."

Michiru gulped as she and the rest turned to face their mentor as Jun said "Alright, back to training everyone. You've still got an hour left before lunch. Don't take to long, we have a specific window to visit the hospital so don't be late."

Confused, Izuku turned to look at the lighter trio and asked "The hospital? Is everything alright?"

Smiling, Michiru cheerily replied "Yeah, we're just heading over to visit Terra! We wanted to say hi since she's been there since the day we got here to Musutafu."

A look of realization appeared on Izuku's face as he quickly answered "Yeah, that's right! Terra Branford! I remember seeing her in last year's sport's festival! I read she went through a quirk evolution after you all fought someone with a weird spider quirk and lost it at the Kiyashi Ward Shopping Mall. Is…she ok?"

"She has been in a coma ever since. No one seems to know what's wrong with her but she's a fellow lighter and we thought it was the least we could do!" replied Michiru.

"Ok, come on, back to training everyone!" Jun admonished, causing the group to break up and return to their regimens.

(X)

"So…Emeralda, I just gotta know!' An excited Mina asked as she sat down with her meal at what had become the girl's usual table in the cafeteria.

Sitting quietly at the end of the table as the rest of the group chatted away, Emeralda peered up from her rather spartan meal to look at the pink girl with cordial annoyance. Mina was putting on what the greenette had quickly leaned was the other girl's begging smile. That big fake smile you use when desperately trying to get something you want. Mina had used it several times already on herself and others to try and get what she wanted and Emeralda already had a strong idea what the acid-shooting girl wanted. "I am sorry, Mina. I still don't want to have a 'girl's night.' I still have much studying to do."

Mina's smile shifted, taking on a sly quality as she replied "Come on Emeralda! Just because we've asked every day doesn't mean that's what I was going to ask today!"

By now, the other occupants of the table, Michiru, Tohru, Momo and Jiro had stopped talking and were focused on the two. This did not go unnoticed by the amber-eyed girl as she coolly said back "It was a logical assumption to make, given its all you've spoken to me about at each meal."

Crossing her arms and tilting her head forward abit, Mina sagely answered "That may be but what kind of hero would I be if I quit, huh?" Then, without waiting for a response, the pink girl dramatically pointed her finger at her temporary classmate and said "Besides! That wasn't what I was going to ask anyway!" before quietly adding "…yet."

Eyes widened by the over-the-top clarification, Emeralda was willing to give the bombastic girl the benefit of the doubt as she replied "I see. Well then, what is it you wish to know Mina?"

Settling down as Emeralda replied, Mina grabbed her chopsticks, getting ready to eat, before she asked "Actually, its about your costume. Michiru said you designed it? Does that mean you came up with the design on the front too? I've never seen anything like it before."

That was a surprise for Emeralda as she thought the next likely subject would have been her on-going sparring with Mashirao. At first, all the greenette could muster was "Oh, the symbol on my costume?" After an energetic nod from Mina, Emeralda turned and looked at the others at the table, getting a reassuring nod and smile from Michiru. Then, pulling out her concealed necklace from around her neck, Emeralda showed the cross off and explained "I cannot take credit for the design. This was given to me by someone very close to me. For him, it symbolized the woman he loves. He…wanted me to have it so that I would always remember him. I chose it to honor the two of them and everything they have fought for."

Having leaned forward to admire the cross, Mina stayed locked in the position, rapped by Emeralda's words. The usually stoic and distant newcomer had just delivered a heartfelt and genuine answer and for a moment after the greenette was done speaking, a pair of yellow irises encased in black simply starred at her in awe. The others at the table were equally moved by the explanation and after a moment, Emeralda pulled the pendent back under her cloths as she looked away embarrassed as she said "Sorry. I know it sounds weird. Looking at everyone else's costumes, most did not incorporate a symbol as I have."

Realizing what her starring had done, Mina frantically waved her hands apologetically as she sputtered out "N, No! Emeralda, that's really col that you feel that way! I'm really jealous, I don't have a symbol because I don't have anything that really speaks to me like that cross does for you!"

Already having calmed herself to return to her normal neutral expression, Emeralda nonetheless seemed interested as Mina spoke. A moment later, Momo spoke up as well "It is true, Kasim-san. I, too, wish I had a symbol or design that encapsulated what I strive for as you do."

Tohru agreed but joked that not having something to show herself off was sort of her thing, getting laughs from the group. Before long, the whole table was agreeing and despite herself, a small smile crept onto the tan girl's face. As soon as the smile was big enough to see, Mina shot up from her chair, fist pumped high in the air as she declared "Yes, I made Emeralda smile!" This drew attention from other tables but the pink girl paid it no mind. Instead, Mina brought her fist down into another dramatic finger point and said "Now, will you have a girl's night with us!"

The whole cafeteria seemed to go silent as everyone within earshot waited on bated breath for the answer. When Emeralda answered with a meek "I…I don't know…" Everyone in the room seemed to let out a collective grown at the anticlimax.

Mina, for her part, threw her hands down on the table in exacerbation as she called out in a whine "Oh, come on! Why not! Didn't you just see how much fun its going to be?"

Her hands now held tightly in her lap and unable to look her accuser in the eye, Emeralda tried to explain "I…I've never done anything like that before. I don't know what to do and…and I don't think I would be very good at it is all."

"Emeralda, we're just going to be enjoying each other's company! Theres no right or wrong about it." Kyoka answered sympathetically.

"Wait." Ochaco interjected "It almost sounds like you haven't really had friends before Emeralda." The gravity defier said, concern in her voice.

"Its…its not that I haven't had friends. Its just that none were really my age and with everyone so busy, I always thought I shouldn't be in anyone's way."

Watching on, Michiru was equal parts heartbroken by what she was hearing and happy Emmy was finally opening up a bit. The tanuki girl knew if she alone kept prying and pestering her friend about spending time with the others that she would likely be stonewalled. Emeralda had done it before and in addition to being quiet, seemed to be very secretive about herself. As cool and confident as Emeralda seemed in combat, she was equally as aloof and awkward outside of it. Now Michiru was seeing why. Emeralda had a very low opinion of herself.

Michiru was shaken from her thoughts when the invisible Tohru declared "Oh, we definitely have to have the girl's night now!"

"Are you all still on about the girl's night? You should give poor Emeralda a break, ribbit." the frog-like Tsu said as she approached the table with her meal. The large-eyed girl had a quick visit to Recovery Girl after going a bit too hard in training and was late to the peer-pressure campaign currently being waged. Tsu liked Emeralda. The two seemed a lot alike, being more practically minded and serious than most others in the class. It hadn't taken long for the long-haired greenette to pick up on how quiet the classes' temporary new classmate was and tried to respect Emeralda's privacy.

Turning to face the frog-like girl, Emeralda offered a thankful nod. Mina, though, was having none of Tsu's shaming as she declared "Oh no, you didn't hear what Emeralda just said! It was the saddest thing ever! I really think we should do this, if only to let her know what she's missing out on." Then, a resolute glint in her black filled eyes, Mina pleaded "Listen Emeralda. All we want you to do is have fun. If that's not happening, we call it off, no questions asked and no hard feelings, ok?"

The others gathered at the table save for Michiru struggled not to add their own voices to the plea but managed to remain silent as the girl in question deliberated. Several, however, succumb to looking at the amber-eyed girl with hope filled eyes. Finally, Emeralda moved to speak and the excitement became palpable as the gathered girls waited on bated breath. "I…" Emeralda started, unable to look the others in the eye "will give it a try."

A small explosion of celebratory cries rang out from the table, drawing the attention once again of everyone in the room as high-fives were exchanged amid whoops and hollers of success. As Emeralda shrank in on herself at all the attention, Tsu leaned in and whispered "Its ok if you don't actually want to do it."

"No." Emeralda whispered back "I…I should try. I've never done it, so logically, I need to try to know one way or the other." The embarrassed morpher reasoned.

"Sure, that sounds good but you don't look very confident. Just promise you'll not force yourself, ok?" Tsu said, still at a whisper.

"Yes. I can do that. Thank you, Tsu." Emeralda replied, sounding abit more sure of herself.

"Don't mention it, ribbit."

No sooner had the table started to calm down that Izuku, Tenya and Eijiro approached, looking a bit confused. It was Tenya that spoke, motioning with his hands to get the groups attention with stiff, almost robotic like chops "And just what, may I ask, could have happened to cause all this ruckus while your fellow classmates attempt to enjoy their meals?" the class rep questioned.

"Yeah" Eijiro added "It was like you all had just been told you got your hero licenses or something!"

With most of the girls at the table still jubilant, Mina said with a knowing smile "Oh, you boys don't have to worry about it! Nothing to see here, right girls?"

A chorus of nods did nothing to quell the three boy's curiosity and Tenya looked unimpressed by the answer so Momo calmly added "Its nothing to worry about, Iida-kun. I apologize for the outburst and promise it will not happen again."

Seemingly satisfied by the vice class rep's apology, Tenya nodded before pushing his glasses back up and said "Very well. With that settled, there was another matter we wished to discuss with you all."

Having stayed quiet for far too long, her excitement at Emeralda's acceptance notwithstanding, Michiru spoke before anyone else could "What do you mean, Iida-san?"

Stepping forward and pumping his fist with a big, sharp-toothed grin, Eijiro excitedly said "The exam! We got to talking and thought it would be a good idea to have a plan since we know we'll likely be the target of all the other schools!"

"That's a great idea! Was it your idea, Deku?" Ochako asked, causing the freckled boy to blush and fidget.

"N, no, actually, it was Tokoyami-san and Greywards-san that came up with the idea" Izuku explained, pointing back to the table the aforementioned classmates were seated. The two noticed the gesture and nodded.

A smirk on her lips, Michiru replied "Looks like our other plan will have to wait, girls. Let's strategize!"

Another cheer rang out, quickly hushed by Tenya before the present members of class 1-A, permanent or temporary alike, gathered to discuss a plan.

(X)

Planning could only go on for so long since Jun had been adamant about leaving on time to go to the hospital to visit Terra. So before long, the three lighters had to excuse themselves, having gotten a solid basic plan started.

Now, though the trio of lighters we left waiting outside of their dorm, Jun yet to arrive with their usual vehicle. As they waited in their UA uniforms, per Jun's insistence, Zelgadis couldn't help but notice how the usually energic Michiru was looking a bit nervous. Cocking an eyebrow, the chimera inquired "Everything ok Michiru? You seem a bit twitchy."

Emeralda had been staring off into space, lost in her own thoughts when Zelgadis' words brought her attention to the tanuki girl as well. Michiru, though, was surprised by the sudden scrunty "Huh? What do you mean twitchy? I'm, I'm fine! I'm just excited to get off campus again, that's all. Heheheh" the tanuki girl finished with a nervous laugh.

The sorcerer swordsmen just narrowed his eyes and scowled as he crossed his arms. Throwing her arms up after only a few moments of the chimera's gaze, Michiru called out "Fine! I'm nervus about going to a hospital, ok? But its stupid so just drop it."

His expression softening into one of curiosity, Zelgadis still kept his arms crossed though as he replied "I don't understand, aren't hospitals places of healing? What could you have to worry about in such a place?"

"Well, lets just say my last few visits to a hospital were…eventful." Michiru answered vaguely, hoping that was enough for the subject to be dropped.

"I don't understand either." Emeralda added "Hospitals were places of mercy in my world. The way you are acting Michiru…something happened, did it not?"

So much for evasion. "I'm mean, sure it was a hospital mistake that turned me into this and the hospital in Anima City turned out to be a front for an evil multinational pharmaceutical company bent on eliminating beastmen altogether where I nearly died, heh, heh…but I turned out fine, right?" Michiru replied with a dismissive wave as she glanced about like nothing was wrong at all.

The two other lighters stood at a loss for words, Zelgadis' head cocked to the side, his eyes comically large. Finally, when he realized Michiru wasn't turning to face them, the chimera ventured "Are…you sure you still want to go Michiru?"

Hearing the empathy in the normally dower sorcerer's voice, a smile came back to Michiru's face as she spun to face her friends "Yeah, like I said, its silly! No two hospitals are the same, right? Theres no reason to think anything will happen just because I've had some bad experiences, right? I mean, we're in another world all together, aren't we? Besides, I owe it to Terra to say hi, so I'm going!"

Michiru's resolution came at the perfect time, with their transportation arriving just moments later, three people already inside. The van's side door slid open to reveal Hitomi, who smiled and motioned for the trio to get in. Jun was at the wheel but the other passenger, their hero escort for the trip, was a face they knew but was definitely new to being their overseer. "Midnight? You're our escort?" Michiru asked as she sat down directly behind the X-rated hero.

Dressed in her normal skin tight costume, Nemuri Kayama or Midnight, turned her head and winked at the tanuki girl as she playfully replied "Ooohhh yes, my little furry little lighter. Kanzaki-san here thinks something might happen so they wanted to make sure to send along someone who can non-lethally incapacitate someone in close quarters, and that's yours truly!"

As Zelgadis filed in with Emeralda into the third row of seats, he frowned and asked Hitomi "You think something might happened at the hospital?"

"Yes…" Hitomi answered worriedly "It was a dream I had last night. My dreams have often proven…prophetic." As the counselor answered, Zelgadis couldn't help but glance over at Michiru, worried this news might deter her. If it had, the chimera didn't see it as her attention was drawn to the next speaker.

"Just in case, there is going to be extra security and I made sure Mob and Hina are training with Ranma this afternoon." Jun explained as they began to drive off.

The car was silent for a moment as that sank in before Michiru spoke up and Zelgadis was sure the tanuki girl was going to share her apprehensions. Instead, the furry girl said "So, what did Power Loader say about my costume?"

Jun chuckled as he answered "Oh, he grumbled about transforming quirks as he snatched it away from me. He took one look at the holes and complained about wings before stalking off. Said he already knew what to do and it would be ready in a day."

The tanuki girl looked relieved as she heard the story, saying as much "That doesn't sound so bad! I was sure he would yell at you."

"Oh no, he's definitely pissed!" Nemuri gleefully said, bursting Michiru's bubble.

"Really?" Michiru groaned.

"Higari is usually pretty laid back. If that's how he reacted, then Kayama-san is probably right." Hitomi added, a hint of sympathy in her voice.

One day with an actual hero costume and Michiru had managed to damage it! It took all the tanuki girl's will power not to encase herself in a cocoon of her own enlarged tail she was so embarrassed. It made the rest of the drive to the hospital that much harder as Michiru remained quiet the rest of the way. Not even her normal favorite past time while in a car, people watching, could calm her.

The hospital itself was, much to Michiru's relief, pretty normal. Aside from the unusual appearance of some to the patients and staff, the only thing that was out of the ordinary were the number of security checkpoints the group had to go through to even get to Terra's room. Jun had said they had taken extra precautions but by the sixth one, it was feeling pretty excessive. At least it gave Zelgadis more time to marvel at all the sights for the only person among them from a medieval society.

Between all the checkpoints, the worry at being in a hospital again and the excitement to see Terra again, actually stepping into the girl's room was rather anticlimactic to Michiru. The room was ordinary, like any hospital room you could imagine when asked to. All that stood out were the room's inhabitants, Shinra, who had come ahead of time and Recovery Girl. Terra herself lay in a coma still, an IV drip attached to her arm and a heart monitor by her bed, beeping regularly.

Shinra stood to greet the new arrivals, a forced, toothly smile on his face as he bowed and greeted everyone "Thanks for coming, I was beginning to worry something had happened."

"Its true!" Recovery Girl added, chuckling "The boy kept pacing back and forth! It was really very cute!" Shinra shot the old healing hero a dirty look as he tried, and failed, to hide a blush but said nothing.

Several in the arriving party laughed awkwardly as they practically filled the small room, the lighter trio coming to stand around the bed of the girl they had come to see. From the bunches of flowers and cards on a table across from the bed, it looked to Michiru that Terra was well liked and she inwardly chided herself for not asking to stop to do the same.

Michiru was brought out of her thoughts by Zelgadis, who spoke with an air of reverence "Its hard to believe, seeing her like this, that this is the same woman who nearly kill us."

"Hey!" Shinra retorted agitated but keeping his voice down out of respect "Terra's one of the sweetest people I've ever met, you take that back!"

"I only meant to praise how strong she was, that's all Shinra. I didn't mean to insult her." Zelgadis clarified.

With Recovery Girl in the room, Hitomi took the opportunity to inquire about her friend's condition "Shuzenji-san, has there been any change at all?"

Slowly shaking her head, Chiyo answered sadly "I'm afraid not. I'll say this for the benefit of everyone in the room since I know you are already aware Kanzaki-san. I had a friend come see her. Her quirk lets her diagnose anyone and even she couldn't find anything wrong with Terra."

"What do you mean, nothing wrong? She's been asleep for weeks, that sounds like somethings wrong to me!?" Michiru blurted out, a bit louder than she intended.

"I understand your frustration, Kagemori-san. I share it. This is my patient, and I can't seem to do anything for her. As someone whose dedicated her life to helping others, I'm ashamed to admit that I'm useless here. Given what you all reported in your fight with her, it sounds more like what is wrong with her could be tied to her, ahem, magical side. If that's the case, there truly is nothing I can do." Chiyo explained with a mix of anger and shame.

After that rosy explanation, the room fell silent as Recovery Girl's admission sank in. Then, the soft and somewhat meek voice of Emeralda spoke up "What…what is she like?"

"Determined and caring" Hitomi said without hesitation.

"She loves kids and is very sweet and caring! She's helped me a lot." Shinra added

"Zelgadis, you actually have a lot in common with Terra. She, too is from a fairly medieval world where magic played a major role. She would have been very helpful in your adjusting to everything." Jun explained. "I'd also add that as strong and determined as Terra is, she never likes to fight. She always wants to find another way. Honestly, I was afraid she wouldn't pass the licensing exam because of it." Jun finished with a light chuckle.

The three lighters listened to the others describe the bed-bound woman before them silently, impressed by what they heard. It honestly made Michiru feel worse that they had tried to take this seemingly amazing person down when Terra went berserk. Looking the sleeping figure, Michiru smiled softly and spoke herself "When I first arrived here, it was you three; Hitomi, Shinra and Terra that greeted me after that old turtle guy showed up. I remember how concerned she was for me, a complete stranger…."

The others spent some time sharing stories of the comatose girl but before long, afternoon visiting hours were over as a knock on the door came. A nurse stepped in and let everyone know it was time for them to head out while normal duties were performed. As the group prepared to leave, Chiyo spoke up "Oh, I thought while everyone was here if you three would be ok with getting your physicals? We never got around to it with everything going on before."

"I'm not sure what you mean, what does a physical entail?" asked Zelgadis.

"Oh, they just take some measurements, like your height and weight." Michiru helpfully answered.

Chuckling, Chiyo clarified "Oh, ho ho! That's certainly part of it, youngin' but I'll want to check your vision, reflexes, get a blood sample and the like as well."

At that last part, Emeralda paled as she quickly asked "Can I…not have the physical?"

The group had begun to file out of the room as Chiyo frowned at the request. As the veteran healing hero began to explain why it was important, Hitomi whispered to Jun "I…guess my dream was just that. I'm glad but I feel awful having worried you all."

"There are far worse things than hiring some extra security, don't worry about it." Jun whispered back.

As the group passed through the door, two rather burley looking men stood waiting by the door for them to go by. Once Chiyo had finished her explanation, the chimera glanced back at the two as they moved to enter the room and he asked to no one in particular "Who were those two? They don't exactly look like the healing type."

Most everyone in the group took a moment to look back as well, only catching the two large men's backs as one pushed a cart inside and Chiyo answered "Oh those two are just part of the housekeeping staff. They handle cleaning the room, replacing sheets, and the like. I believe those two just started in this wing a few days ago though. Now, about those physicals…"

Though the two men seemed suspicious to him, Zelgadis' attention was pulled back into the 'getting a physical' question with Emeralda starting to really push back on the idea. The chimera himself wasn't opposed but wondered out loud how they would draw blood from his rock hard skin. As the diminutive elderly hero explained special needles existed for just such issues, Zelgadis stopped paying attention backwards at all, missing that one of the two men stepped back outside and shut the door. The housekeeping staff just stood there, as if on watch.

As the group moved further and further away, Emeralda became more and more animated over the idea of the physical, blood drawing especially. With each passing step, that since of dread Hitomi had felt in the morning began to make itself known, creeping ever so slowly into the forefront of her consciousness. Meantime, in the room itself, the second burly orderly pulled out a small device concealed under one of the bed sheets on his cart. The item looked little more than a music player, especially with the cable coming out of it. The orderly quickly pulled out the cable from the heart monitor that connected to the sensors on Terrra and replaced it with the one on the device, and the monitor continued picking up a heartbeat without alerting the staff.

With the threat of anyone being alerted to anything wrong taken care of, the orderly puled a pillow off his cart and approached the comatose lighter, a satisfied grin on his face at a job all but completed. As Shiryou brought the pillow over the girl's face, he said quietly "Sorry girlie, but your pretty little head is just worth too much. Thems the breaks…" Then, without further delay, the large man proceeded to press the pillow over the girl's face. Unresponsive as she was, Terra simply lay there as she slowly suffocated to death, Shiryou putting a great deal of weight on the pillow over her head to ensure the deed was done.

Back outside, Hitomi was starting to become visibly disturbed and turned back to look down the hall. One of the housekeeping staff was outside Terra's room, appearing to be chatting it up with the two guards on duty. They seemed to be enjoying the conversation but why was the orderly even outside the room? Shouldn't he be helping inside? No. No no no no no no no!

"Jun! Its Terra! Something's wrong!" Hitomi frantically screamed as she started to rush back to her room. As she got closer though, the counselor suddenly seemed to collapse, falling forward flat on her face. Several of the group had rushed after Hitomi, Shinra right behind her. When she fell, the shark-toothed young man nearly fell over her himself but managed to catch himself. Moving over to the brunette's side, Shinra worriedly called out "Hitomi? Hitomi! You ok?" With hospital staff looking on in shock, Shinra saw that the older woman was unconscious, unable to answer his calls. As several doctors approached, the flame-footed hero-in-training frantically looked about, trying to see if something had caused the collapse but saw nothing.

In that moment, Hitomi's cries about Terra had been forgotten as all the attention in the room was drawn to the woman who now lay unresponsive on the floor. This left plenty of time for Shiryou to do his work, which left Kiyanon doing his best to suppress a smirk, his distraction working like a charm. As the woman had approached, Kiyanon had availed himself of his quirk, shooting a small needle from his fingertip into the approaching woman's leg, sending her instantly into unconsciousness, no one the wiser. Feigning surprise and concern like everyone else, Kiyanon was sure everything was going to work to plan. Shiryou should be just about finished with the job by now.

Instead, a panicked scream pierced through the commotion surrounding Hitomi from behind the door Kiyanon was guarding. The hired assassin's eyes went wide and for a moment, was frozen, unsure if he should just run or try and see what was happening to his partner. Deciding their cover hadn't been blown quite yet, Kiyanon threw the door open, the guards right behind him as those not immediately tending to Hitomi looked on. Kiyanon only got a few steps into the room when he was confronted with his fellow assassin being held aloft at the side of the bed by his neck as he struggled to break free with his arms. That Shiryou was being choked to death was bad enough, but what was worse was the creature that was doing it to him. In the bed, seated where their target had been was a creature covered in pink fur and wild pink hair, cloaked in terrifying aura.

When the…thing saw him though, it dropped Shiryou, who crumbled to the floor in a heap, rasping and coughing for air. Turning its gaze upon him, Kiyanon watched on in awe at the creature seemed to float off the bed and settle into a standing position as the two guards came up beside the assassin, their guns at the ready as one of them shouted "Stop right there!"

The aura covered monster seemed to acknowledge the officer, looking at him and not moving any further and for a moment, Kiyanon thought things might be under control. Then, to his surprise, it spoke, the voice was indeed feminine as the overall form of the creature was but it carried a weight that was undeniable "The one on the floor tried to kill me. I only acted in self-defense."

This was bad. Really bad. Even if he could paint her as a monster who was clearly trying to murder an innocent orderly now, he and Shiryou would be kept for questioning and their cover would be blown. But nowite would be very hard to run with so many just outside thanks to his distraction. However, Kiyanon was ripped from his thoughts when the pink monstrosity spoke again, pointing right at the disguised assassin "He has his scent all over him, as you do. Were you here to kill me as well?"

She knew. Somehow, she knew! Panic setting in, Kiyanon's eyes grew wide as the two officers took a moment to glance his way. The pressure mounting and the sounds of more people coming from behind, Kiyanon rose his hand and shot a whole barrage of needles at the monster as he screamed "Stay away!"

Terra simply batted way the incoming projectiles, which, unfortunately, sent several back, hitting both guards, sending them both down, just like Hitomi before them. As Kiyanon turned and attempted to run, he ran right into Zelgadis and Shinra, who had come to see what was going on. As the terrified attempted assassin tried to force his way past the two lighters, Shinra peered into the room and saw his transformed friend float over toward them, grabbing the panicked man by the back of his throat and throwing him backwards, causing him to crash into some equipment with a crash.

At the sight, Shinra hesitated for a moment before calling out "TERRA! Is that you!"

Zelgadis, meanwhile, called back "Michiru! Emeralda! Get ready! She's up and transformed again!" as he raised his hands, ready to cast a barrier at the slightest hint of an attack.

The two girls rose and stepped forward, each shifting their arms, ready to attack. Midnight, too joined them, whispering "I'll use my quirk if I have to but its fairly indiscriminate and will affect everyone around, so be prepared if it comes to it. Only use your abilities in self-defense, got it?"

The assembled lighters nodded, steeling themselves for what might come next. They need not of worried, for when Shinra called out to the pink-furred woman, it wasn't long before he got an answer "…Sh…Shinra?" Then, looking down at her clawed hand, Terra's features seemed to soften, from one of determined self-preservation to one of regret and shame before she continued "I…I can't believe this happened again…but I'm so glad to see you! Where am I? Why did that man try to kill me?"

After taking another moment to look Terra in the eye, and finding the confirmation that it was actually her, the flame-footed young man dash forward, hugging his wild-looking friend. Terra stiffened at the contact, unsure what to do as others began to gather around her, some familiar, some new to her. After releasing Terra, Shinra said, relief clear in his voice "I was beginning to think you'd never wake up!"

At hearing that, worry crept onto the girl's animalistic features as she looked about, recognizing Midnight right away then settled on the…was she a racoon? What was her name? "Michiru? I see your in a UA uniform…how long have I been out?"

With Hitomi being seen to by Chiyo, Jun stepped forward to answer before anyone else "Terra, you've been unconscious for over three weeks. Do…you remember what happened?"

Closing her eyes for a moment to think, Terra opened them again as she spoke "I remember meeting Michiru…then there was a second beam…you with the light green hair and there was a six-armed creature. Then…another beam of light and two more figures…one of them almost seemed to be made of magic."

"Xellos…" Zelgadis almost growled.

"It was so overwhelming and painful, that man's presence, then…I feel like I blacked out after that." Terra said, once again looking herself over before she continued "But, seeing myself now, I can guess what happened. I hope I didn't cause too much trouble."

Several of those assembled choose to look away at that last comment before Jun explained "Well, there was some property damage but, in the end, no one was seriously hurt. By the way Terra, are you able to return to normal?"

Looking relived to hear no one was hurt, Terra then looked abit embarrassed as she replied "OH! Right, of course I can, sorry…" And with that, with no fanfare, Terra shifted back into a dark green haired young woman in a hospital gown.

Then, a weak voice could be heard calling out "Terra? Terra, is that your voice?"

Instantly recognizing her mentor and friend, the group gathered around Terra parted as she rushed forward to Hitomi, laying prone on a stretcher. Clamping the brunette's hand in her own, Terra answered, her voice breaking as she was near tears at the sight "Yes! Yes, Hitomi, its me! What happened? Are you ok?"

Holding up a small needle, Chiyo answered the formerly pink girl's question "I think poor Kanzaki-san here was drugged. Probably by the quirk of one of the two gentlemen you ruffed up, Branford-chan."

"Oh no, will she be alright!?" Terra worriedly asked.

"Won't know for sure until we've run some tests. The fact that she's awake now is a good sign though. We'll take good care of her, don't you worry!" Chiyo reassured the young lighter.

Terra reluctantly let go of Hitomi's hand as she was carted off to be checked on. In the meantime, the two officers were also being treated along with the so-called housekeeping staff that Terra had claimed attacked her. Several more officers had appeared and instructed Terra to remain at her bed while everything was sorted out. As they waited, Shinra had to know and asked Terra "So…what happened in here? You said one of these guys tried to kill you?"

Looking at her handiwork, the two large 'housekeeping employees' now laid out and being cared for by hospital staff, Terra answered "The one over there, he was trying to smoother me with a pillow."

After several gasps from the gathered group, Shinra breathlessly asked "But you were in a coma for weeks, nothing seemed to wake you and they couldn't figure out what was wrong with you. You mean to say it took someone trying to kill you to wake you?"

Looking at Shinra, unsure if she should answer, when Terra saw the pleading in her friends eyes, she knew he deserved to know "...No. Honestly, if those two didn't have that smell, I'd likely have continued to lay there until he had killed me."

As the assembled group exchanged glances, Michiru, who had the best sense of smell of the whole of them, by far, asked "What smell, Terra? I hadn't noticed any change the whole time I've been here."

Pressing her lips together and glancing up at the ceiling as she thought of a response briefly, the dark-greenette replied "Yes, well smell isn't exactly it. I assume Sanada-sensei here has mentioned magic to you all?"

"I use magic myself." Zelgadis said as Michiru and Emeralda nodded.

"Do you? Hmm, now that I look at you, there are traces but you clearly can't make magical energy, not like him." Terra spat out

Instantly, the chimera knew exactly who the recently assaulted woman in front of him was talk about and his eyes widened in horrified realization. Michiru saw it right away, asking "Zel, what's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost?"

At first, Zelgadis didn't seem to acknowledge the tanuki girl at all, starring out into nothing at all as he whispered "No…I, I should of known…" After Emeralda grabbed hold and shook the sorcerer-swordsmen, his head snapped up, alert once more as he surged forward and grabbed Terra by the arms and frantically asked "By him, you mean the one who arrived here with me, don't you?!"

Taking a moment to really stare at the rock-encrusted man barring down on her, Terra slowly answered "You, you were the other one with him? Yes then, the other one who arrived with you that day that I lost my mind. He, he was a monster…sick, twisted magic made manifest and when he appeared, the gentle current of magic that had existed here became a tsunami of malice that overwhelmed me and forcibly returned my esper form to me. The world is now awash with that magic but those two seemed to be especially drenched in it Its as if that monster had rubbed himself all over those two. Its nauseating and it was that that woke me."

Zelgadis let go of the poor woman as he took several steps back, that terrified look returning to his face. Looking both confused and more than a little worried, Michiru asked "But, she's talking about Xellos, isn't she? How could those two have his magical scent if he's dead?"

Hearing that, Terra interjected "Dead? No, there's no way that's true."

"Why?" Emeralda quickly shot back, her own stoic visage shaken by what was being implied

"If, if he were dead, the flow of this horrible magic would have been stymied. It would still linger, sure but its still clearly being made, filling this world with its taint."

Falling to one knee and punching the floor, Zelgadis gritted out "I should of known! I can't believe I, of all people, took his word!"

Bending down to meet the shaken blue-skinned lighter, Jun nervously asked "Known what? What the hell is going on Zelgadis?"

"It means Xellos is alive! And he's loose on this world. Everyone on this world is in serious danger!"

(X)

"Metalium-san? Is something wrong?"

The newest member of the Shie Hassaikai had been in the mists of a tour of his new home when the purple-suited man had suddenly stopped and turned to look off at seemingly nothing. After a moment of awkward silence, he answered "No no, Kobe-san! I just got the feeling my most recent investment has come to an end is all! Oh, and please just call me Xellos! No reason to be so formal, we're all one big happy family now, aren't we?"

In spite of the odd behavior of the new recruit that he'd been asked to show around, Kobe was taking a liking to this Xellos fellow. That was a certain charisma the purple-haired man seemed to have. And he was so polite! After taking a moment to try and figure out what the other man meant by 'investment' Kobe answered "Ya, sure, I can do that Xellos. All I really have left to show you is where you'll be stayn'"

Coming up to the veteran low-ranking grunt, Xellos threw his arm around the shorter man, a big smile on his face as he exclaimed "Wonderful! You're too kind Kobe-san! While we're on the way, you can tell me a bit about the former boss I heard the other members talking about!"

Yeah, there was something about this guy that made Kobe feel wanted and there was no other subject the grunt enjoyed talking about more as the two headed through the halls of the mansion.

(X)

To the shock of no one who knew anything about Slayers, Xellos is indeed still alive, untethered by any pressing need to follow this world's rules any more. What he's up to joining the yakuza? Well, that's a secret. Plus, now all the lighters are up and about. So now we have a party, a girl's night and an exam to look forward to. Its going to be a busy few chapters coming up! On a housekeeping note, I'll be taking the family on a little vacation later in the month. I don't plan for it to hinder my completion of next chapter but don't expect a double length one like here or anything.

I hope you're all staying cool out there, its been pretty hot, and that's saying something for a Floridan! Take care, I hope you've enjoyed and see you next month!