W.I.T.C.H Dreams of Lusteria
By Galistar07water
Disclaimer: W.I.T.C.H. is owned and copyrighted by the Walt Disney Company Italia and is in no way affiliated with the fictional works of Galistar07water.
Author's note: If you would like to see drawings of W.I.T.C.H. Dreams of Lusteria, please visit my page and click the "W.I.T.C.H. Dreams of Lusteria" folder in the gallery section.
Chapter 04: A Wall of Earth and Iron pt. I
The next day after their latest failed mission in Zhong-guo on Lusteria, the Guardians gathered in the living room of their headquarters. Orube was sitting with Will and her friends while Kimi is standing by the window with her arms crossed and her back turned towards them. Lady Ngọc Long, their caretaker, however, was sitting on an Asian pillow seat as she drank a cup of tea. No doubt that she was listening to their tales lately.
"I just don't get it!" said Irma as she stuffed her mouth with more french-fries. Thankfully, they were not the old and soggy ones that Orube used to make. "I really don't get it."
Cornelia rolled her eyes. "We heard you the first five times already, Irma. And stop hogging all the fries to yourself!"
"Phwat?!" Irma asked with her mouth full. She grabbed her glass of orange soda pop to wash them down. "No one's eating them, so I might as well help myself."
"Enough talk about food," Taranee said. "What about our problems with Byakko?"
"Not just him, but the other four Celestial Warriors, too," Will said as she got up. "We know that they're difficult to defeat ever since our first encounter with them in their ziggurat. Obviously, we couldn't face them all at the same time. They're just too powerful. But when we tried to face only one in Zhong-guo…"
"He regenerates like it was nothing!" Irma finished.
"It was creepy!" Cornelia agreed, shuddering as the image still played in her mind. "I mean…we gave it our all into that attack."
"We thought it would work on Byakko the same way it would work on the tengu and Miranda and all of those other monsters…" Hay Lin added, leaning back against the softness of the couch.
"We need to change our strategy," Orube noted. "We need to find a different way to defeat our enemies because we can't keep coming back defeated like this."
"Easier said than done, Orube," Will added. "We don't even know what we did wrong before. Why can't we destroy Byakko the same way we defeated all of our past enemies?"
Ngọc Long shook her head. "Every day, the Celestial Warriors are growing stronger and if they conquer the entire planet, they'll have enough power to tear down the Veil and declare war on Kandrakar."
"Why haven't they already if you've trapped them in their own world?" Cornelia asked.
"Because there are still those who would challenge them," Orube pointed out, remembering Zhang Yide and his resistances as well as the Emperor of Zhong-guo. "Will, do you remember the rule of obtaining the Heart?"
Will nodded, clinging to her chest. "Only the Keeper can decide to give her Heart of Kandrakar to someone. It can't be taken by force."
"The same sacred law applies on Lusteria," Kimi said. "To conquer the entire planet, the Celestial Warriors must first conquer the Five Great Elemental Kingdoms."
"I remember them mentioning that back in the Dark Forest," Hay Lin said. "Nihon and Zhong-guo is two of them, right?"
Ngọc Long nodded. "But it would not be an easy task. The smaller nations have fallen to the Warriors' Deadly Sins, but the monarchies of the five most powerful kingdoms on the planet will not give up their thrones so easily. They will hold out and buy us enough time…for now."
"For now? You mean…?" Taranee asked.
"Yes, Taranee. The five monarchs are pure, but Darkness as powerful as this can corrupt them eventually," Ngọc Long shook her head. "The Celestial Warriors will find a way to force these monarchs to surrender their powers, knowing that they're still mortals. We cannot let that happen."
"But we blew off half of his head and the guy's still talking!" Irma blurted. Her excitement had caused some of the glasses of cold beverages to spill, much to her friends' annoyances. "Sorry," Irma said. "Why can't these jerks just stay down?"
"I told you it's because the Celestial Warriors are demi-gods," the Jade Dragon reminded her in a firm tone. "Molded from the elements themselves by ancient gods, they cannot be killed so easily."
"So? It doesn't mean that they're immortal or invincible," Irma shrugged.
Ngọc Long shook her head. "I'm afraid the Celestial Warriors of Lusteria are nothing like the demi-gods in your mythologies," she said, placing her tea cup down. "I believe it is one of the reasons why you cannot kill them so easily."
"But there must be a weakness," Will insisted. "Everyone has a weakness…a source of power…an origin…"
Ngọc Long nodded as she placed her tea cup on the table. "An origin…the beginning…"
The other Guardians glanced at one another, unsure where this is going. Ngọc Long pushed the tea cup into the center of the table and looked up at them with eyes full of wisdom. "Perhaps if you could see our history, you'll be able to understand more about your enemies and how to defeat them."
She pointed a nail at the tea cup positioned in the center of the table. "Now look into the tea and you will see how Lusteria became the way it is today…"
Before any one of the seven girls knew it, a plume of mist poured out of the tea cup, enveloping the entire living room. Then they heard the clashing of metals against metal. Light sparks in the distance as fireballs collided with earth and water. They looked around and saw people in ancient battle armors fighting each other. As they watched the changing scenery, Ngọc Long tells them about the history of Lusteria.
Ten thousand years ago, five kingdoms rose up and became the strongest on the planet, each with their own patron god called the Celestial Sovereigns; the Black Tortoise was the god of the Northern Water Kingdom of Joseon; the Azure Dragon is the Eastern Air Kingdom of Nihon; the Vermillion Bird is the Southern Fire Kingdom of An Nam; the White Tiger is the Western Earth Kingdom of Zhong-guo; and the Yellow Dragon is the god of the Central Celestial Kingdom of Tian. These five gods and their kingdoms soon grew weary of one another and fought in the great Elemental Kingdoms War with in order to become the one main nation to dominate the planet.
The war lasted for centuries and didn't stop until a foreign entity intervened. One day, a goddess called Nyxea the Nightress came down from the sky and with her powers convinced them to stop fighting to pursue an age of endless peace. She taught the Celestial Sovereigns and their subjects peace and decided to call the planet "Lusteria" for it luster like the stars in the sky. Unfortunately, peace did not last very long and the fighting continued because it was in human nature to fight. Nyxea realized that no matter what she did, peace would not last long and soon began to believe that the only way to ensure it is to force it upon the Lusterians. Over the centuries, the Nightress turned cruel and merciless and sought to enforce her dictatorship not just amongst Lusterians, but on all of the worlds. To do this, she had to go into Laden Dwell, the heart of all worlds and the place where all the hearts originated from.
Ironically, it was the Celestial Sovereigns who stopped Nyxea, the creature that had taught them peace and unity, and locked her away in another dimension. But the Celestial Sovereigns were old gods and the long battle against the Nightress took a heavy toll on them all. With the last of their strengths, the Sovereigns each took a handful of their divine elements and molded them into the shape of humans. Then, they quietly passed away. Their offspring would become the Celestial Warriors, created to protect Lusteria from future threats like Nyxea the Nightress.
"So that's why we couldn't kill them so easily," Will realized. She exchanged glances with the others as they nodded in unison. "The Sovereigns created them to withstand any powerful threats like Nyxea should they ever appear again."
"Correct, Will," said Ngọc Long. "For centuries, the Celestial Warriors would appear when Lusteria is under threat from an outside force. At times, they would even appear to aid previous Twin Guardians in their battles to ensure balance in this world. They were considered heroes and legendary warriors and many revered them."
"But happened to them?" Taranee asked.
Ngọc Long shook her head sadly. "I'm afraid I don't know the answer to that. As time went on, they disappeared and began to fade away from people's memories. I assumed they have discovered a new threat related to the Deadly Sins and somehow it has corrupted them when they tried to get rid of it."
The next thing the seven heroines knew, the mist evaporated and they were back in the living room of their headquarters as if nothing has changed. Irma breathed a sigh of relief as she sank back against the softness of the sofa.
"Well, that was useful," Irma said. Turning her head to their caretaker, she smirked. "No offense lady but we didn't really learn much from all of that history lessons."
"I wouldn't say so," Hay Lin frowned, shaking her head. "We now know why we can't kill them that easily and that they were created for pure justice and order."
"Well, that's not going to help us now that they're inducing Deadly Sins all over the place," Cornelia pointed out. "We need to find a way to counter their magic and Sins, but we're not sure what."
"What was the other reason?" Will asked all of a sudden. "You said one of them is that our adversaries are demi-gods forged from the elements by the Celestial Sovereigns. What is the other reason?"
The Jade Dragon walked up to Will and politely asked her to manifest the Heart of Kandrakar. Will was unsure why but did as she was told. Ngọc Long placed one palm of her hand towards it and paused for a moment before sighing.
"Just as I have feared," she said as Will involuntarily called the Heart back into herself.
"What?" Will asked.
"The other reason is because your hearts are not strong enough. There is no unity and harmony within any of you. All seven of you have been together for weeks and yet you've made no effort to work as a team."
"Of course we have!" Cornelia insisted, turning over her shoulder to glare at Kimi. The feeling was mutual as Kimi returned the glare before turning her back against them. "The six of us have always worked well together, but Kimi does nothing except condescend to us!"
"She thinks she can do whatever she wants because she's better than us!" Irma added.
"Can I help it if you're not up to my level?" Kimi shrugged.
"Watch it, girl, or I'm going to—" Irma threatened, clenching her fist as water molecules began to forum.
"Irma!" Orube glared, warning her to put it away.
Irma scowled and mumbled something beneath her breath. Unfortunately for her, Kimi heard it. Will and the others expected Kimi to walk up and slap her in the face like she did last time. Instead, Kimi picked up her coat that's been lying on the coach and made her way towards the door.
"Kimi, where are you going?" Orube frowned. "We're not done discussing this."
"I beg to differ, Orube-neechan but I need to leave," Kimi replied. "Right now, these lily-livers are emitting too many negative auras in this house and if I don't leave right now, I might do something to them I might regret."
"Kimi…" Ngọc Long looked on sadly.
"I need to be alone," Kimi insisted. "Gomennasai, Ngọc Long-sama."
The door closed and Cornelia folded her arms. "Great, there she goes off on her own again. Will she ever learn?"
"Kimi is not the only one at fault here," Orube said, placing her hands on her hips. "Ever since our last two missions, all I've been hearing are you girls bickering and arguing like children."
"What can we do? It's not like Kimi wants to listen to us anyway?" Will asked.
"How can we when she just shuts us out?" Taranee asked.
Ngọc Long shook her head in disappointment. "This is why your hearts are not strong enough to defeat Byakko and the other Warriors. Lord Araël and the Gemini Council sent Kimi here so that all of you can establish a harmonious connection with one another. Your mission started weeks ago and yet you have all failed to make any progress."
Irma, Cornelia, and Will opened their mouths to object, but Ngọc Long raised her hand to silence them. "The only way for you to achieve this is to start interacting socially with Kimi. If you can all learn to open your hearts to each other and listen to the others' voices, you'll be able to establish something more useful than arguing."
"Open up to the girl with the frozen heart?" Irma asked sarcastically, rolling her eyes. "How do you expect us to do that?"
Orube and Ngọc Long exchanged glances.
"The same way you girls got me to open up and respect you," Orube replied. "Have you even tried getting to know Kimi?"
"Not really since we never got the chance to invite her to hang out with us after school," Hay Lin shrugged.
"Ever since you've become our trainers, we hardly got the time for ourselves anymore."
"Well, then why don't you girls take the rest of the day off?" Ngọc Long suggested. "It seems this would be the perfect opportunity for all of you to start establishing your harmonious connection."
"But what about our training today?" Will asked. "We still have some moves to practice, don't we?"
"I can train you physically, mentally, and spiritually," Ngọc Long said. She held up one finger and tapped it on Will's chest. "However, I cannot train you to open up your hearts and connect with each other. Consider this a part of your self-training. In any cases, I must return to Kandrakar and report back to Lord Araël and the Oracle of your last mission."
Before any one of them could object any further, a burst of green fire and water mixed together in a spiral column and the Jade Dragon disappeared.
Orube walked the girls out to the door before closing it behind them. Apparently, Orube had other business to take care of and couldn't come with them.
Will decided to break the silence. "Shall we get started?"
"Why not? I'm dying to let Kimi yell and express all of her frustration on us again," Irma rolled her eyes.
"Your sarcasm isn't helping," Hay Lin said. Turning to Taranee, she asked, "Any suggestion on where we should take Kimi to?"
"How about the zoo?" Irma suggested. "That way, she can be among her beasty families."
"Irma! What a thing to say!" Hay Lin scowled, putting her hands on her hips. "C'mon, we have to make an effort here."
"Why? Because the Elders told us so?" Irma remark defiantly. "I told you before, Hay Lin. Kimi may be a Guardian, but that doesn't mean that she deserves to be our friend."
"Irma's right," Cornelia nodded. "Why are you even defending her?"
"Because Kimi tried to save me," Hay Lin reminded them. "If you two think she's really that heartless, then you should take another look in the mirror. And she's not the only one who can sense a person's true feelings. You forget that I'm the Guardian of Air and the air around Kimi is telling me that she's doing all of this for a reason."
This seemed to perk Taranee's interest. "What do you mean?"
"I mean Kimi's trying to build a barrier between herself and us as well as the world around her," Hay Lin explained. "I don't know what she's trying to hide but obviously she's not such a bad person as you might think. Besides, do you honestly think Kandrakar would let her keep her Guardianship this long if she was evil?"
Taranee nodded. "I don't have to read her mind to know that she's feeling a lot of anger and frustration. My dad's a psychologist and he told me that bottling all of that negativity inside can't be good for you."
Cornelia shrugged. "So what you do suggest? To get someone like Kimi to open up is like trying to go through a wall of earth and iron."
Taranee thought for a moment and suddenly an idea came to her mind, causing her lips to curl into a smile. "I know the perfect place to take Kimi to."
Kimi sighed as the autumn air around her became even colder. She rubbed her shoulders to rid the chills. Frankly, the cold never bothered her that much to begin with, but on this day, it made her feel isolated and confused. How long has she been without her brother? Nearly three months and it was killing her. She would give almost anything to know if he was well.
Although Kimi doesn't really like most of her family members in the Kinomoto clan (the feeling was mutual from most of them anyway), she knew that everyone was worried about Kyochi. Unlike her, he was their favorite because his sweet, quiet, and gentle nature resembles that of their deceased mother the most. Kimi knew that her Uncle Komei misses his sister the most since he still keeps a private alter for Kotone next to their ancestors' nameplates.
However, the most surprising thing she felt recently was from her father. When he touched her for the second time, Kimi unconsciously read parts of his aura, revealing his true thoughts and feelings about his wife and children for the past sixteen years.
"No, no, no, no!" Kimi cried under her breath, seething her teeth and shaking her head.
Ever since her mother's death, Kimi had grown to hate her father. Her relatives from both clans told her that Kohaku was a disgrace and a murderous beast, bent on building its shadow-wielding powers for dark purposes. She was told that her father cared nothing for her or her brother and she had believed them. Why else would he have abandoned them in the first place?
Lies…all lies, said her heart.
"Stop it!" Kimi replied.
Humans lie, but auras don't.
Was it true? Did both clans really lie to her out of hatred for her father? Her family told her one thing but the aura from Kohaku told her something else. Kimi wanted to hate her father…to hate him for chasing after the darkness, for killing her mother, for abandoning her and her brother, and for putting on this act on being a repented monk…but after feeling his aura, she wasn't sure.
"Kimi?" said a voice behind her. "There you are. Wait up!"
Kimi sighed and relaxed. She didn't have to turn around to know that it's the five lily-livers. "What do you want?"
"We're going to ignore your rudeness and get to the point," Irma said. "Your legal guardian gave us the rest of the day off."
"Besides, we know that you're frustrated and angry…well, more angry than usual since we ran into your father," Hay Lin stumbled over her words and quickly tried to recover herself. "Sorry, what I meant was…I mean…"
Kimi seemed a bit annoyed, but otherwise she didn't say anything beyond an occasion sigh and a daggered glare.
Taranee shook her head and decided to get to the point for her friend instead. "We think it would be best if you could relieve yourself of all of this negativity by taking on an activity."
"There is only one place for all of us to go to when we want to release all of our energy," Will grinned mischievously.
"What are you plotting?" Kimi questioned.
"Let's just say that we're going to show you a place where we go to have some fun," Hay Lin smiled, perhaps a bit too giddily for Kimi's liking. "And it's the perfect place where you can work with people in harmonious unison."
The Guardian of Light blinked in confusion but had no time to ask any more question before Taranee and the others held up their index fingers and used them to summon a teletransportation spell.
Hwang-Ryong looked on in distaste as the holographic image of Byakko flickered in front of him. If Byakko had noticed it through his blindfold, he didn't show it.
"Tell me, Byakko," Hwang-Ryong began, "how is destroying half of the palace not a hindrance for your mission. You were supposed to leave the Emperor of Zhong-guo alive long enough for him to hand over his power to you."
"Be calm, brother," Byakko replied. "The Emperor is still alive as he fled the scene of the battle before it got interested. Besides, I was trying to kill those pesky little Guardian insects."
"And yet they are still alive," Hwang-Ryong pointed out.
"Rest assured they will return," Byakko said. "The boy's twin sister is determined to find him and will not stop until she does."
Hwang-Ryong smirked and looked down at a prone figure lying on a stone block in front of him. "Hmph, true love makes one determined, but it also blinded them into rage."
Byakko chuckled, causing Hwang-Ryong to look up. "And what is it that you find so amusing, Byakko?"
"The Light brat's father is here in Zhong-guo," Byakko replied.
Hwang-Ryong's eyebrows raised in surprised. This was not something he expected. "Kohaku Watsuki is alive? I would have though he perished in the wilds after killing his spouse. With his dark powers, he could prove useful to our missions."
"I wouldn't rely on that, Hwang-Ryong," Byakko laughed. "The once great and powerful shadow-wielding Kohaku Watsuki is now a repented monk. Those fools are nothing but weak-minded bleeding hearts."
"A man with a dark past like him can be persuaded with a little incentive. See if you can persuade him to join our side. If he refuses, kill him."
"I'll gladly kill his little bitch daughter before his eyes first," Byakko laughed maniacally as he brandished his weapon. "It'll be easy picking during harvest time."
"Do not underestimate him, Byakko," said a new voice behind Hwang-Ryong. He didn't have to turn around to know that it was Xuan Wu, the Celestial Warrior of Water. "After all he did punch a hole through your abdomen if I'm not mistaken. Kohaku may be a monk, but we have his son."
"Even a docile animal can become ferocious when one of its cubs is taken," Hwang-Ryong nodded.
"Fine, I'll see if I can persuade him," Byakko growled. "Tell his son that his father is coming to visit him for me."
The image disappeared as Hwang-Ryong and his sister looked down at the unconscious body of the Guardian of Darkness in front of them. The boy's face seemed as if he was half asleep. His blue eyes were half opened but there was no light or any sign of life in them despite his steady breathing. Instead, they were fogged up and dull as if he was in a catatonic state.
Hwang-Ryong stroked the boy's cheek gently with his dragon claw-liked nails and smiled. "Hear that, little boy? It looks like your father is about to pay you a visit."
"You should be excited," Xuan Wu smiled. "Lord Byakko is planning a little family reunion for you. Soon, you'll be united with your father and your sister again…" she paused, her tone hinted both a touch of cruelty and mellowness. "…although it's a shame you won't be awake in time to see them together again."
Kyochi Watsuki naturally did not respond.
"I thought you said no magic on earth," Kimi retorted after they reappeared again. A quick glance told Kimi that they're next to a beach.
"Relax, there was no one around," Will assured her. "Plus we're on the roof now. No one goes up here except the maintenance crew."
Sure enough, they were standing on top of the roof of a building with one side facing the ocean and the other facing a street full of houses.
"Where are we?" Kimi asked. From her map study, she could only tell that they were currently on Park Avenue.
Taranee beamed proudly. "Welcome to Jensen Dance Academy!"
"Jensen?" Kimi blinked. "As in Jensen-san from school?"
"Yeah, Sheila lives here," Hay Lin smiled. They walked towards a hidden door that leads to the upper floor of the building. "Sheila's dad, Kevin, is the owner of this place and he was Karmilla's choreographer."
Kimi's eyebrow arched up.
"You really do live on another planet, don't you?" Irma laughed as they passed the greenhouse and headed towards Kevin Jensen's office. "Karmilla is like the best rock singer in this world."
"But why have you brought me here?" Kimi asked stoically. "I already have a cover up story. Why must I indulge myself further by attending another school? Isn't Sheffield enough?"
"You're not getting the point, are you?" Cornelia asked.
Taranee smiled as they approached Kevin Jensen's office. "Don't worry, Kevin will tell you all about this place and—"
"Taranee! Girls!" said a familiar voice. The six Guardians turned to see Sheila Jensen behind them. She looked very happy to see them again. "What are you girls doing here?"
"Sheila, hi!" Taranee waved. "We were looking for your dad."
"I'm sorry, but he just left for his business trip," Sheila replied. "Did you need to talk to him for something?"
Taranee gave Kimi a little push. "We wanted Kevin to show her around the academy and how great this place is."
Sheila beamed at Kimi and smirked playfully. "Oh, so they're trying to get you to join, huh? Can't blame them, it's an awesome place to learn how to be a dancer."
"Excuse me?" Kimi asked.
"Oh, don't be shy," Sheila laughed. "You know Will, Irma, Cornelia, and Hay Lin weren't keen on joining even after Taranee showed them around at first. But you'll see Jensen Dance Academy is the perfect place for dreams and passion to come true."
"I don't think this is good idea," Kimi replied.
"C'mon, Kimi," Hay Lin whispered. "We're supposed to learn how to work together in harmony and unison. What better ways to learn how to do that than through dancing?"
"C'mon, I'll show you to the dance room," Sheila said.
"We'll meet you two there later," Taranee smiled as Sheila grabbed Kimi's wrist and pulled her away. "We just need to change into our uniforms first." With that, the other five headed for the locker room.
"So, Kimi, how do you like Heatherfield so far?" Sheila asked.
"I don't like it," Kimi replied bluntly. "In fact, I hate your city and your school."
The people of Earth have lost respect for the nature that surrounds them and the spiritual connections with the world. They have no stillness of mind, Kimi thought sourly. What makes you think that I like your back-watered world, let alone your city?
Sheila let go of Kimi's wrist as they stopped in front of a door.
"I get why you hate this place, Kimi," Sheila said. "Believe me…I hated it when my dad told me that we were going to live here. It's not anything like the life you used to have, right?"
Kimi nodded.
"I didn't get along with Cornelia and Irma at first either," Sheila said. "In fact, we couldn't stand each other, but then again it's probably my fault as much as theirs. Cornelia is such a snob and Irma doesn't shut her mouth."
They still are like that, Kimi thought, rolling her eyes.
"And me? Well, I'll admit that I was a bit condescending myself because I thought they were not on the same level as me," Sheila shrugged. "I mean, I've traveled the world and lived a privileged life. I have a famous celebrity who treats me like I'm her sister and I get to spend as much time as I want with her whenever she's offstage. I didn't want to leave all of that behind to go to school with kids who only saw me as their ticket with Karmilla."
"You pushed them away and build a wall of earth and iron between them and yourself," Kimi stated.
Sheila turned to stare at her. "How did you know that?"
Your aura told me when you grabbed my wrist, Kimi thought. "Lucky guess."
"Yeah, well, that was what I did and frankly, some of them deserved it," Sheila.
"Do you mean those Grumper sisters?" Kimi asked, smirking.
This got Sheila to laugh. "Yeah, I can't stand them, either. I'll admit, when you insulted them on you first day, it was like music to my ears. And the way you handled Uriah and his friends—that was incredible! Everyone in school was talking about it for days. I don't think Uriah will ever forgive you for making a fool out of him."
"He is but a childish baka," Kimi said. A small smile curled on her lips. Kimi will secretly admit that she was enjoying this Sheila girl's company.
"Well, anyway…" Sheila cleared her throat, trying to get back on topic. "This city isn't so bad and thanks to Taranee, I was able to open up and make new friends here. Give this city a chance and I'm sure you'll find something about it that you might enjoy. Now, c'mon, the others are probably already inside."
Sheila pushed the door and Kimi found themselves in a room full of mirrors on one side and a wall of glass windows with a perfect view of the ocean on the opposite end. There was a tall, dark skinned woman with an afro hair-style talking to Will and the other Guardians who have just changed into their dancing uniforms with arm bands, leg warmers, and colorful tops and white slacks.
"Ah, Sheila," said the dark skinned woman. "You sure have taken your sweet time."
"Sorry, about that," Sheila laughed. Turning to Kimi she said, "Edna, this is Kimi Watsuki. She's that transfer student from Japan I told you about a few weeks ago."
"A pleasure to meet your acquaintance, Miss Watsuki," Edna smiled. "I'm Edna, one of the dance instructors of Jensen Dance Academy. Are you here for your first lesson?"
"Don't get the wrong idea," Kimi replied, rather rudely. "I have been dragged here against my will. Do not take my presence here as a sign of any interest."
Taranee stared in shock. No one has ever spoken like that to Edna so bluntly and gotten away with it. She looked at the teacher nervously, half expecting Edna to strangle the girl. To her surprise, Edna smirked and placed her hands on her hips.
Taking Kimi's comment as a challenge, she said, "We'll see about that. Japan isn't the only place where students can learn to move harmoniously together. Here at Jensen Dance Academy, you'll see for yourself just how united I can expect from my students." She turned her attention to Taranee and her four friends. "Girls, get into position! You, too, Sheila. Show me how we dance here at Jensen!"
"Yes, ma'am!" the girls chirped and quickly got into position. Edna turned around and pressed the play button on a stereo behind her. Hearing the rhythm of the music, W.I.T.C.H. and Sheila moved their arms and legs in perfect unison as if they shared one mind and body.
"And one, and two!" Edna instructed. "And three and four. And turn and shake. And one, and two!"
Kimi had never seen dancing like this. Mind you, she has seen geisha and kabuki performers dancing back home in Edo. She has even seen ethnic dancers when she visited the other kingdoms, but compare to what she's seeing right now, the dances she was used to seeing were modest and elegant. Here, her fellow Guardians were moving their bodies to the flow of music that would be considered scandalous on her home planet. It's not that Kimi didn't hate it herself, but it wasn't necessary to her. As her fellow Guardians continued their dance routine, Kimi felt some of their auras and she could tell that it was all very compassionate and emotional.
"…and two and three and stop!" Edna ordered. The girls stopped at her signal and Edna clapped. "Well done girls, but Irma and Cornelia were two beats off during the second spin. Let's try again from the top—"
"That won't be necessary," Kimi interrupted, shaking her head she headed for the door. "I've seen enough for one day. I won't stoop myself to something that is so demeaning."
"Kimi, wait," Sheila cried in surprised. "Don't tell me that you didn't like it!"
Kimi stopped. "I don't hate it neither do I love it. I appreciate what you're trying to do, but my answer is no. Your friends have already wasted my time enough as it is…"
"Excuse me, but we are trying to teach you something here!" Irma pointed out. "And I don't mean the dancing itself!"
"Kimi, dancing isn't a waste of time nor is it something to be ashamed about," Taranee insisted. Her fists were clenching so tight out of anger that the knuckles were turning white. "Dancing is important to me and my friends. It's something that's beautiful and you can use it to channel all of your emotions and feelings."
"Excuse us for a moment," Will said to Edna and Sheila as she and the others pulled Kimi to the far side of the room.
"When we dance, we become one with ourselves and each other," Will said, touching her chest to show where her heart is. "It helps us become more harmonious and united as a team. Remember, you're part of the same group and friends like us are all you've got."
Kimi sighed and replied evenly. "You're wrong. If we're friends, then why do you force me to join an activity which I have no interest in?"
"We were just trying to help you," Hay Lin said sadly. "Honestly, we thought it would be a good way for you to open up and express yourselves a bit more."
Kimi scowled. "Emotion is unnecessary like your dancing. It does nothing but expose our weaknesses to our enemies."
Will glared. She couldn't believe what she just heard from Kimi in her head. "You know, Kimi, having emotions doesn't make us weak, but it does make us humans."
If Kimi had taken that as an insult, she was doing a very good job of hiding her frustration. Kimi pushed her way past them and said, "I'm here to look for my brother, not waste my time dancing. If you don't want to help me, fine, but don't drag me into your little routine."
Kimi placed a palm on a door handle and turned it. Sheila heard the click and looked up to see Kimi about to open the door to the dance room next door.
"Kimi, wait," Sheila interrupted.
"I told you, I'm not interesting in joining your dancing school—"
"No, I mean that's not the exit—"
Too late because as soon as Kimi opened the door, someone's foot almost kicked her in the face.
"LOOK OUT!" someone cried on the other end.
Kimi quickly stepped to one side and used one hand to block the kick to her face. With another quick reflex, she grabbed her assailant by the ankle and threw him back several feet.
"Ow! Man, that hurt!" cried the assailant. Kimi readied herself for another attack but when she looked up, it was just a room full of teenagers. The boy who had tried to kick her was lying on his back, grimacing in pain. As he tried to get up with the help of a blonde hair girl, another boy with red hair snickered.
"Stop snickering, Troy," said the boy whom Kimi just threw. "I like to see you in my place!"
Troy, the red head, looked up and gaped in awe when he saw Kimi and her friends entering the room. "Pinch me, I'm dreaming—Ouch! Michael!"
A younger boy, Michael, and his friend grinned mischievously. "What? You told us to pinch you. Right, Tommy?"
"That's what he said," his friend, Tommy agreed. "Should we do it again before he starts flirting with all of these girls?"
"Very funny, guys!" Troy pouted, rolling his eyes.
The boy with brown hair that Kimi threw to the ground got up and walked over to Kimi and shook her hand with a big grin on his face. "Name's Takuya. The red head over there is Troy…those two over there are Tommy and Michael. Over there," he nodded to the tallest and oldest looking kid behind him, "that's Jean Phillip, but we just call him J.P. And the girl over here is Zoë. And you girls are?"
Sheila, Will and her Guardian friends (saved for Kimi) introduced themselves and once that was done, Taranee was the first to speak up.
"What's this?" Taranee asked, as she closed the door that connected both dance rooms.
"Training, of course," said J.P.
"We're the Sheffield Martial Arts Club," said the blonde girl named Zoë pointing to herself and five other boys. Mind you, she was the only girl.
"What are you guys doing here?" Cornelia asked curiously.
"We're letting them use our spare dance room for martial art training," Sheila replied. "Since the gym is still under renovation, they needed a place to practice for an upcoming city tournament."
"City tournament?" Kimi asked.
"Yeah, it's this winter. Almost every martial art clubs from different high schools and colleges will be participating," Zoë nodded. "It looks like you know some moves yourself. Would you like to give it a go, Miss…?"
"Kimi," Kimi replied stoically. "Kimi Watsuki."
"Watsuki?" Zoë blinked, hearing that name before. Suddenly, she clasped her hand excitedly. "Right, you're that new transfer girl who threw Uriah and his friends to the ground! Oh, this is great! Why don't you join us? We could certainly use another girl in this club."
Takuya laughed which earned several glares from the girls in this room.
"Beginner's luck!" Takuya laughed. "Seriously, girls should stick with dancing because that's what they're good at the most."
"There he goes again, being sexist," J.P. said, shaking his head.
"Say that again, I'll give you another spinning kick, Takuya," Zoë threatened.
"Who said that I was here for dancing?" Kimi spoke up.
"Well you just came in through that door with your friends, didn't you?" Takuya grinned. "Plus, we heard music and so—"
"Shut up and give me a stance," Kimi said as she took off her jacket and tossed it to the side. Troy caught it and sighed as if he has just caught something from a famous celebrity. The two youngest boys in the back laughed.
"Wait, you seriously want to go toe-to-toe with me?" Takuya blinked in surprise.
"Is that a problem?"
"No, it's just that you're a girl and I don't hit girls—"
Before he could finished, Kimi grabbed his wrist and used an aikido move to throw him across the room. "Idiots like you always underestimate us women."
"Why you little…!" Takuya stammered as he quickly got up to his feet. "You think you can just walk in here and toss us aside?"
"I believe I just did…twice in fact," Kimi smirked. "Not surprising since you had such a poor stance to begin with."
Takuya blushed furiously. "That's it!" Takuya cried, charging forward.
Kimi smirked again as she quickly stepped to one side to dodge him. This kept going on for awhile. Takuya couldn't get a solid hold of her because she managed to maneuver behind his back and mirrored his movements, thus preventing him from turning around to grab a hold of her. Will and her friends decided to take a seat and watch because it was getting entertaining. Strangely enough, the way Kimi moved so fluidly to avoid Takuya was like watching them dancing.
Eventually, Takuya got tired and bent over, huffing and puffing. Kimi wasn't even breaking a sweat as she locked his arms behind his back before slamming him to the ground. The others winced. Moaning in pain, Takuya looked up and said, "You know, you're just full of yourself, aren't you?!"
"Don't tell me you are tired already," Kimi said. "Is this really the best your little club has to offer?"
"You haven't seen anything yet!" J.P. said, as he stepped forward. He positioned himself in a boxing-liked stance and tried to give a flurry of punches. Kimi merely dodged and aimed for his knees with her legs, knocking him to the ground.
When Troy charged at her (quite eagerly in fact), Kimi used a judo move and with one arm, swung and slammed him to the ground. When Zoë decided it was her turn with her special spinning kicks, Kimi quickly blocked her and knocked her to the ground with ease with a karate move. She looked up at Tommy and Michael, but they quickly turned down the offer of being beaten by someone older than them.
"Submit," Kimi said, turning to Takuya.
Takuya quickly held up his hands in defense and laughed it all off, much to their surprise. "Okay, okay! I get it, you're good…really good! I haven't seen anyone move like that since Koji left."
"Who's Koji?" Will asked.
"He's an old friend of mine and our previous captain," Takuya shrugged. "Man, why does he have to skip two grades and graduate early? You'd think he would have turned down the scholarship but nooooo! They just had to ditch us!"
Zoë giggled and brushed him aside and stood next to Kimi. "Forget him. He and Koji have been friends since they were little. Both their families moved here from Tokyo and they've been by each others' sides since."
"Until recently, that is. Right, Michael?" said J.P.
Michael and Tommy nodded. "Yeah, you're right. We've been struggling to find a good replacement for Koji since he left."
"Hey, I got it!" Zoë said as he green eyes grew bigger. "Kimi, why don't you be our new captain?"
"WHAT?!" Takuya cried.
Kimi blinked and the other Guardians gave each other looks of disbelief. "I'm sorry, I'm confused. Why would you want me to join you?"
"C'mon, anyone can see that you're very experienced," Zoë said. "You just demonstrated about four different types of martial arts on us like a pro! We do need someone with your knowledge and skills to help us compete in the city tournament. Isn't that right, Takuya?"
Takuya thought for a moment and sighed. Rather than protesting against it further, he laughed heartily and crossed his arms. "Why not? I mean, Kimi's just as cocky as our last captain was when he was still here. I could use someone like her to knock some sense into my thick head. That is…if she's not too busy dancing already."
Zoë remembered that Kimi came in with those other dancing girls. She glanced over at Will and the others. "You're with them, aren't you?"
Kimi nodded and then shrugged. "I'm not here to waste my time dancing with these lily-livers."
"Well, that's perfect," Zoë's face lit up again. "Then you'll be our new captain?"
"I wouldn't mind having you knock me down over and over again," Troy said dreamily.
J.P. smacked the red head on the head. "Shut up! You're gonna scare her off!"
"So what's your answer, Kimi?" Takuya grinned happily. "You wanna help train us to win the city tournament?"
"I…I…" Kimi hesitated. Why does everyone want her to participate in so many things? She's not here to have fun, she's here because the Gemini Council relocated her for their new mission. She has to focus on finding her brother, not waste her time entertaining these kids. "I can't. I'm sorry."
Takuya and his friends looked disappointed.
"Well, you don't have to decide right now," Zoë offered. "We'll still be here until they fixed the gym at Sheffield."
"If you change your mind, you'll know where to find us," Takuya smiled.
"I can't believe you turned them down," Will said as all six Guardians exited the building. "I thought for sure that you would take their offer."
"Yeah, since you come from a planet that does a lot of kung fu like Orube," Irma said casually.
"I told you that I don't need any more distractions than necessary," Kimi replied evenly.
"You know it doesn't have to be," Taranee said. "The way you moved against that Takuya boy and his friends was almost like dancing itself."
"Maybe being the captain of our school's martial art club could be your way of dancing," Hay Lin grinned. "It is, after all, just another way of channeling your frustration and learning how to become harmonious with yourself and the other practitioners."
Kimi sighed and insist stubbornly. "I told you that I don't need any more distractions."
"If you think joining the Sheffield's Martial Arts Club is a waste of time, you're a bigger idiot than I thought!" said a familiar voice.
The Guardians turned around, ready to counterattack, but relaxed when they saw it was Kishimoto and his little sister, Kohane.
"You!" Kimi glared accusingly. "Have you been listening to our private conversation?"
"Oh, please," Kishimoto shrugged, putting one hand in his pocket and one hand holding on to his little sister. "You girls didn't exactly need a megaphone. I could have heard you from across the street."
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"None of your business," Kishimoto replied.
"Kimi, don't even think about it," Will warned as she sensed the intense glare Kimi was giving off.
Before Kimi could said anything, Kohane looked up at her older brother and said, "Nii-san, don't tease Kimi-chan. She looks really sad today."
Kimi gasped. Kohane let go of her brother's hand and walked up to her with eyes that can see through her the same way Kimi could read people's auras. Will exchanged nervous glances with her friends as they watched the little girl taking Kimi's hand.
"It's okay, Kimi-chan," Kohane said in a gentle voice. "My brother and I haven't seen our father in years since he left us, but that doesn't mean that he's a bad person. Maybe your father isn't either…"
Kimi gasped and quickly backed away. This little girl was reading too much into the things that are confusing her right now and it's making her uncomfortable.
"Kohane!" Kishimoto cried, running forth to pick up his little sister. "Watch what you're saying!"
Kohane ignored her brother's comment and said, "I think your father's trying to reach out to you, Kimi-chan, just like everyone else is trying to help you. Don't let a wall of earth and iron isolate you from the world…"
"Kohane, I told you that's enough!" Kishimoto warned.
He turned around to apologize to Kimi but before he could, she quickly pushed past him with her head down. The others ran after her.
"Kimi, wait!" Hay Lin cried.
"You can't run away from your problems, you know!" Irma shouted.
"Go away!" Kimi seethed through her teeth. "I don't need your help…or anyone else's! Just leave me alone!"
"Kimi, Kohane's sixth sense freaks us out, too, but I think she's right about you and you're father…" Will said. "Look, we're sorry for dragging you to Jensen's, but after hearing what that little girl said, I think the problem with you right now is that you're confused and afraid."
"You know nothing about me!" Kimi glared.
"Hey, I had my fair share of daddy issues, too," Will said, standing her ground. "And I can tell you that you are going to have to accept the way things are with your dad. The next time we go back to Lusteria, you will have to face him again."
The other four Guardians nodded in agreement and Kimi avoided their eyes, focusing on her boots instead. She wanted to push them away, but W.I.T.C.H. and everyone else have been scratching the surface of the barrier she has put around herself. But what if they're right? What if little Kohane-chan was right?
Before Kimi could object anymore, Will felt something beat within herself. Making sure that no one was around to see them, Will manifested the Heart of Kandrakar the crystal glowed warmly. Kandrakar is calling them.
"Speak of the devil," Will said as the six of them transformed into Guardians and beamed to the Fortress of Light for their next mission.
To be continued…
Cultural references:
If you recognized the members of Sheffield's Martial Arts Club…bonus points for you.
Yes, Hwang-Ryong is keeping Kyochi's alive…for now.
In the comic series, Taranee first joined Jensen Dance Academy and became friends with Sheila Jensen who eventually became friendly with the other girls, more or less like Kimi is now. While Taranee's the Guardian in the group who loves to dance the most, she did convince the other four to join her dancing school, and so it would make sense that they would try to get Kimi to join as well.
Edna is one of the dance instructors in the comic series.