Northern Frontier

The North lands of Echo, remote and sparsely populated.

People of the North
Shiroi and 5x5 eventually come out of the lake, and Shiroi simply repels the water off her body, then materializes new clothes, unfortunately she completely sprayed 5x5 in the process. Shiroi still looks breathless, almost looking at everything as if it were surreal.

5x5: *dries himself off with his own clothes and puts them on. Smells under his arms and nods pleasantly* Alot better. Do we get sleep now?

"Yes, we will. ...Are you interesting in sharing again?"

5x5: If it's alright with you.

As they return to the town, her father immediately looks their way. "You missed desert. What were you doing out there so long?"

5x5: My apologize. I need to take a bath, due to my unbearable smell. I didn't know where the lake was so she showed me and I tend to get paranoid when I'm in the dark of the woods so I asked if she could stay nearby until I finished. I washed really hard to get of that awful smell, now lucky me, I don't smell anymore.

While not pushing the issue, 5x5 senses that he likely isn't buying it. Regardless, her father walks off. "We leave tommorow morning at first light. Be ready to wake up early."

5x5: Yes sir...Wow, that reminds me of the times I used to lie to The Admin. on why I failed my missions.

Shiroi takes him to the building, which has been fixed by the townsfolk since the attack. Once inside, she turns and looks at him.

"I think it's time you knew the other benefit of gaining a Spirit Brand."

5x5: What else is there to know about it?

Shiori sighs. "Besides allowing you to visit the Spirit Realm and marking you as affiliated with us, they open the capability for a marked mortal to learn how to use spiritual powers. Soul Hands, Spirit Weapons, even Energy Tapping. ...The final capability of the Spirit Brand allows the mortal branded to evolve into a spiritual being. ...Put it another way, if you wanted to, you could truly become a spirit like us. Death... wouldn't be a threat to you."

5x5: Death comes to all.I have no fear dying, cause I know there's a place for me up there. *looks up into the skies* I can't keep living, Shiroi. Especially when I'm not meant too.

She gently hugs him. "...I know. Many of us serve him too... we are not immortal. Spirits can die just like anyone else. ...It's just a lot harder to do. A spirit can kill another spirit, and if we lose all of our energy or our will to exist... we do perish. But we don't have to worry about old age... not nearly as much as most. ...Though I do suppose it does happen... it's just not heard of happening frequently."

"...I won't push you... but I don't want to be alone after you're gone..." She hugs him tighter.

5x5: I won't be. For you, I will keep myself alive as long as possible so that wont happen. *hugs her back with one arm*

He feels her 'heartbeat' speed up at the touch.

"...I guess I'll have to keep Branding you every other month then... they only last for two months for non spirits. I could train you to use spirit power to greater efficiency, though you could only extend it so long before you crossed the border between spirit and mortal."

"I also guess I had better learn how to cook... I'm rather rusty at it..." She smiles faintly, before heading over to the bed.

5x5: I know how. It was a requirment back at The M.C.C.P. I can teach you how to if you want.

She looks up as he says this, halfway into the covers. "Will you?!" She cries with unexpected enthusiasm.

5x5: Yea ofcourse. You've been teaching me alot, o I think it's about time I teach you what I know.

Shiroi smiles, and slides all the way into the covers. "Thank you... I'd like that..." She rests her head on the pillow, staring up at him.

5x5: You sure will. I warn you it might get a bit messy. *gets in the bed next to Shiroi* Wait hold up. *gets out of bed right quick and gets on his knees and says his prayers*

She watches him for a moment, and closes her eyes, her mouth silently saying a few lines, though he can't tell what she's saying. When she finishes, she watches him pray through half opened eyes, a content smile on her face.

5x5: *finishes saying his prayers and get's back in bed* Goodnight, Shiroi.

She edges closer to him, lightly pressing against him as she adjusts herself. "Goodnight Jon..."

5x5: *holds her closer to his body*

Early the next morning, 5x5 tries to sleep in longer, but he starts feeling a sensation as though he was being watched, and carefully peeks to see Shiroi's father at the doorway. His arms are crossed, but he says nothing, still most likely aware 5x5 is awake.

5x5: *slowly sits up, his eyes are mildly blinking as he is still tired* It's not what it looks like...

Quietly her father replies, "I see the young man who Shiroi chose to love. If you were like the men who took advantage of her, well let me put it this way. You wouldn't be awake to be having this conversation with me. I was going to wake you up to head out. ...However she is resting so peacefully... ...You have one more hour, but then we must get ready to leave. Sleep or do whatever you wish. ...Besides... as much as I don't like it... she is old enough to make her own calls. She lives on her own... once they come of age, we must let them make their own paths. I still do not know if you truly are the man she has wanted for so long... but for now I will respect her decision. And good morning."

He leaves quietly.

5x5:...Man that guy reminds me of The Admin. so much...*looks at peacefully sleeping Shiroi* The last thing that I want is for you to be hurt the same way the others did. *strokes her hair back and looks at her a little while longer then ever so gently kisses her on her forehead. He gets on his knees and say his prayers and puts his clothes on*

She sleeps for at least twenty minutes, but then she eventually starts to stir, her arms extending as if seeking him out next to her. Eventually she completely stirs and sits up slightly, looking for him in the room. She relaxes though as soon as she sees him, though her eyes appear a bit unfocused, and take a moment to regain the usual clarity in her eyes.

"Morning..."

5x5: *turns around shirtless. He has a royal blue flower tattoo no the left side of his chest and 5set domino on his packs. He smiles as he looks at her* Morning. How did you sleep?

She rubs her eyes. "Fine... but why did you get up?" She lets out a tiny yawn.

5x5: We have get moving today. We're going to see people. The Wonderful people of the North. *smiles as he puts the rest of his clothes on*

She lets out a low moan and buries her head in her pillow, pulling the sheets back over herself. "...Ten more minutes..."

5x5: Come on, this can be the time I show you how to make breakfast.

"But I'm not hungry..." She whines, though he can tell she's lying.

5x5: You may be a spirit, but you still gotta eat. Come on, I promise it will be fun. And who doesn't like fun? F is for friends who do stuff together. U is for you and me. *pokes at Shiroi's side and is pointing at himsfelf, then does some bacflips and cartwheels* N is anyone at anytime at all, down here in th---h. Well you know what I mean.

She sits up again, still looking tired, and gives him a blank look. "...Did you eat Fool's Blood Mushrooms?"

5x5: No, but there is a thing called Spongebob. Hurry, If you wanna learn how to cook, but 1st, where's the kitchen?

She eventually slids out of the bed, and walks over to a side room. She looks back at 5x5. "I will be back. And try not to eat any more sponges." She enters the room and closes the door.

5x5: Spongebob isn't something you can eat, unless it's one of those Spongebob Ice-cream pops.

She comes out a few minutes later wearing a white tee shirt and white pants, the change in style catches him off guard. He also notes that the dress she wore before seemed to hide her figure, but wearing normal clothes, her figure is now much more defined than before.

"Do you like it? I tried to match the style of dress that is more commonly found on your home world."

5x5: *is amazed, his mouth is almost wide open.* You look...absolutely stunning, Shiroi.

She looks at him expectantly. "How about that breakfast then?"

5x5: *continues to look at Shiroi for abit longer until he snaps out of it* Oh yea sorry..uh, where's the kitchen?

She grabs his hand and guides him through the house until she leads him to a small room, though the kitchen couldn't possibly be called modern.

5x5: *looks around* Ok, let me get the stuff we need.

1 minute later

5x5: *puts pancake mix, carton of eggs, milk, a measuring cup, a large bowl, a ladle and griddle* Your first lesson, is to how to make the best breakfast food known to man. The Pancake. Here you have all the stuff you need to make them, I'm gonna help you while you do it. You ready?

"What is there to be afraid of?"

5x5: Burning yourself on accident for one. Ok, First you wanna put not alot but enough pancake mix in that bowl.

She proceeds to dump half the bag of mix into the bowl, the dust cloud blowing onto them.

"...I think I messed up."

5x5: No no, It's ok. That means more pancakes for us.*slightly smiles* Now you take 3 eggs an 2/4 cup of milk and put it in the bowl.

She places the three eggs directly onto the mix, and looks at the cups in confusion.

5x5: Oh that's my fault. Should've been more specific. *takes the eggs out of the mix* I mean like this. *takes one egg and cracks it on the table, then just opens it up and the yolk and egg fall into the mix and puts the shell in the trash* Now you try.

She lifts the two other eggs using her Soul Hands, and they crack open, dropping the contents into the mix, and throwing away the shells.

5x5: Good. Now carefully pour this much milk. *picks up a cup and shows her how much milk she needs to fill up the cup*

She does so without any trouble and pours it in, having an almost childlike curiosity about the whole affair.

5x5: Now...hold up. *gets a wooden sppon* Use this to stir. I'll plug in the griddle so it can pre-heat. *plugs the griddle in and sets temperature to 400 degrees *

She stirs the mix, though she seems very much confused as to what's going on.

5x5: *looks at the mix* Your doing good.*gets some sugar and puts some in the mix* Mix it until it looks smooth and cream, you might have stir a little bit faster though, Like*takes Shiroi's hand and and has it stirring the mix a little bit faster, making the mix more creamy looking* Like that.

She mixes it to his instructions, then when finished looks at him. "Is this... pancakes?" Indicating the creamy mix.

5x5: *smiles* no, its the mix. Speaking of hich. *gets a can of spray-cooking oil and sprays enough of it on the gridle* Now it's time to make pancakes. *gets the ladle* Take this ladle and scoop enough mix and pour it on the gridle. Once you do, do the same thing again but make sure you you do it on a nother part of the griddle. Dont pour it in the same place.

She does as he says, and occasionally somehow gets it on her dress, though she seems not to notice, until there are an even amount of poured sections of mix, though some quite large and others rather small.

5x5: Your doin' good. Now we take this spatula and flip them over, but wee need to let them sit for a minute or two. You also got some mix on your clothes, but anyway. How did you sleep last-night?

She looks over at him. "Fine... I still would have liked to be with you longer... it comforts me."

5x5: Tell you the truth...that comforts me too.

"...I'm glad. I wish the others you left behind could be at peace. ...Things have been unbalanced in the otherworld."

5x5: I sure hope so...They've probably gotten over me at this point. Hopefully things will be easier for them.

She sniffs, and flips the pancakes. She looks over at 5x5. "I meant there is a war going on. I can sense it."

5x5: What's happening? It isnt another Fantasy War is it?

"Potentially, it could mean the end of human civilization on Earth. Unless stopped, the ones known as Phoenix will unleash a force beyond reckoning." She sniffs, and flips the pancakes again.

"You've met one of them before. Two of them actually."

5x5: Yes, Kukyo and some evil-white chick named....White.

She shakes her head. "Actually three. Kado, Torrent, and yes, White. White is their leader."

5x5: I remember. Torrent was the purple guy who beat the crap out of me when I was...out of it.

"I am not sure why he did that. Phoenix members rarely ever show themselves."

5x5: I also bet they wouldn't give care about anyone else except themselves. So why would he just beat me and give me a lecture for being out of it? Why not just let me go about my business?

"I don't have an answer to that. He may have had his own personal reasons, I wouldn't know. But it brought you here. ...Am I burning this?" A faint smell of smoke can be detected.

5x5: ...Yea.*looks at Shiroi* I guess it did.*gets a plate* You can put the pancakes on this plate. After you get them all off the griddle, put more mix on it. *re-sprays the griddle*

Shiroi does so, then closes her eyes. "A storm is incoming in the next few days."

5x5: Does that mean we're gonna have to get moving then?

"It's mainly heavy rain and lightning. The winds will be below threat level. The windstorms you became aquainted with are the result of a Spirit fighting another Spirit... either that or one attacked you directly."

5x5: Whoa. That must be some hectic fighting. The fight s between a positive and a negative spirit,right?

"Usually. But sometimes two positives or two negatives have a quarrel with one another. It's not common. It seems odd to me that it would just be a fight. It would seem too convenient that would happen out of the blue. Spirits of this world do tend to pick up on outsiders easily, as well as their intent. A Justice could have easily come after you, or a Protection like my father. Some spirits even take it upon themselves to protect cities of their own free will. It was so with Japan sometimes. Sometimes they really did protect people from their shrines."

5x5: You can flip them now. Are their any other spirits besides Justice and Protection?

"Many. Tranquility, Wrath, Anger, Hate, Peace, Nature, Life, Death... possibly too many to count. They each play a role in the natural cycle of life. Unfortunately mankind on Earth failed to understand the role and blessing of the Spirits, so if they didn't fade the majority likely abandoned Earth to its fate. Though there still may be a few positives... the majority would be negatives that linger.

Didn't I tell you what I am?" She flips them.

5x5: Yes, you're a Tranquility.

"Yes. I'm glad you remembered that. We don't have any technology where we live, so cooking will be much more basic, you know that right?"

5x5: Yea, I do. That means more cooking classes for you then.

Kyōdaina walks in. "What is that smell?" He eyes Shiori's clothing and what they're doing. "Are you teaching her how to cook? Her mother will be thrilled."

5x5: Everyone deserves to know how to make pancakes. She's doing great so far, but I guess you already knew she would.

"Frankly I'm amazed she hasn't blown something up at this point. ...We gave up after a while and moved on to other matters."

5x5: Well atleast she's makin' up for that. The pancakes are ready. *gets chocolate syrup and whip-cream. He puts 3 pancakes on a separate plate and puts drizzles some chocolate on them and whip-cream, then finally puts a black cherry on top, then hands the plate to Shiroi and hands her a fork*

Kyodaina silently leaves and closes the door, as if something bothered him.

Shiroi eats the first one rather slowly, then she eats the second one with little trouble, and then completely devours the third.

"...Those were ama-z-zing! Thank you Jon!" She pauses, and before he can start eating his, she tackles him in a fierce hug.

5x5: *drops his pancakes* Aw dang, ma' cakes! *ties to reach but the hug prevents him from even reaching the floor. He finally gives up* Aw. *hugs Shiroi back* Your welcome.

She moans. "Why...do I have a buzz... in my head...?"

5x5: I think I poisoned you with sugar. Getting sugar high, I think.

She leans up against him, but the chair ends up tipping over and knocking them to the ground, and she smiles as she lands on top of him. "Planned it!" She giggles.

5x5: You know. You gotta be the most crazy and yet so adorable girl, I have ever known.

She lays down on top of him, smiling. "So what shall we do next?" She says in a playful tone.

5x5: We could just lay here or we can start packing up for the trip, unless that's already covered.

"Father already transported the crates. ...I'm rather bad at transportation..." She sulks for a moment.

"You should see my mother sometime! She's the most beautiful spirit in the North! ...I'm just an adorable flower..." She sulks again.

5x5: It happens to be that I like adorable. *smiles at Shiroi*

She gets off him, and levitates the pancakes off the ground, they glow golden for a second, before landing on the plate and returning to the table, looking as though they had never even fallen on the ground.

"I fixed your pancakes."

5x5: *is breathless as he gets up off the floor and looks at his plate of pancakes* Oh my God...*is making a really wide smile* Your the best! *kisses Shiroi's cheek and runs to his pancakes and immediately starts devouring them*

As soon as he finishes, Shiroi looks at him. "We need to practice you going into the spirit realm. Otherwise it will be uncomfortable adjusting when we get home."

5x5: Am I supposed to enter a certain way. Is it my posture? I mean I can fix that.

She looks at him with a faint smile. She suddenly shoves him, and his vision flares painfully into pure white and black as he suddenly feels disconnected from everything.

"Try and focus on me!" Shiroi's voice rings out, but it comes out garbled and he can barely understand it. He tries but the painful black and white does not go away, just endlessly swirling.

5x5: *is dizzy* Aw snap, Now I'mreallyout of it. Alright I'll try. *focuses and sees a faint image of Shiroi* I can see you, but my sight is starting to hurt.

He suddenly feels a tugging, but it fades as soon as Shiroi puts a hand on his shoulder in the real world and pulls him back.

"I should have guessed you would have some trouble. We'll try again in a few minutes, you'll probably want to catch your breath after that."

5x5: *rubs his eyes* Ah, so much flashing. That's what you meant by 'practice'.

"It's not easy, I would know. It takes time, even for natural born spirits to acclimate to their first time in the spirit realm."

5x5: Atleast we still have all the time in the world to practice before we get to the spirit realm.

Kyodaina walks in. "Get ready to leave in a few minutes. We leave soon. Boy. Have you ever been to the arctic circle before?"

5x5: Back on Earth, yea. The only thing that kept my mind off the blistering cold was those baby polar bears...and then that feeling went away when mama bear got involved.

"Well it's going to be as cold or worse, and not much to say in the way of animal life."

5x5: As long as there's nothing there trying to bite my ass off, Im ok. But I will need a big,big...really big jacket.

He holds up a really,really,reallybig jacket.

5x5: Wow, man. I swear you're like Santa Claus. *puts on the jacket and moves around abit only to fall back*

Kyodaina rolls his eyes in irritation. "You are something else..."

Shiroi giggles.

5x5: Spoken like a true, Samaritan. Can you get me up, please?

Shiroi helps him to his feet. "I think you need a smaller one Jon." She laughs.

5x5: He said it himself. It's gonna get cold where we're going. But yea you right, needs to be smaller.

He feels the material shrink to somewhere more appropriate to his size.

"We won't reach the Arctic for a while. We don't need that out right away."

5x5: Ok. *takes off the jacket* How will we be getting there?

"BY THE POWER OF.... walking." Shiroi giggles. Kyodaina looks at 5x5.

"You fed her sugar, didn't you?"

5x5: *looks away* Maybe...She's awake, isn't she?

"That's not the issue. ...The issue is... BLARG!" He yelps as Shiroi tackles him in a hug. "...She gets excessively hyper and high as a kite for days."

"Can I have a kite for my birthday?"

5x5: How 'bout water instead? Water can fix just about anything. *gets a spray bottle and begins spraying Shiroi with it" Bad,bad,bad Shiroi. Very bad. Get off your father like that.

She looks at 5x5 and gets a wicked smile. The bottle rips out of his hands and starts rapidly spraying him instead.

5x5: *his face is wet* My eyes...It burns...

Shiroi smiles. "Surrender!"

Kyodania sighs. "This is why we only let her have sugar on her birthday."

5x5: So she's glutton free or something?

"...Usually. SHIROI! DOWN!"

She quietly retreats to a corner and sits there wide eyed and stays there.

Kyodania sighs irritably. "...Don't say or do anything to her for five minutes. You'll encourage her to keep acting up. She needs to calm down." He walks out. "Be ready to go in ten minutes."

5x5: Can I atleast give her water to drink? That should wash some of that sugar away.

"Fine. Nothing else."

5x5: *gets a water bottle out the fridge and rolls it over to Shiroi* Drink up.

She reluctantly takes it and slowly drinks it, remaining silent the whole time.

5x5: *sits on the floor and thinks about all the past events from his childhood to where he sits now. He shakes his head slowly as it hurts to think about all the pain, as that has been all their was in his life*

She looks up at him. "Why are you sad...?

5x5: Im not sad...it just hurts.

"What does? What's making you hurt?"

5x5: *touches his head and is silent for a little while longer*...Nothing. It's nothing anymore... *gets up and leaves the kitchen*

She runs after him and grabs his arm. "Don't lie to me Jon! What's wrong? You don't have to hide your pain from me!"

5x5: Believe me Shiroi...I don't want to hide my pain..but I can't tell you neither...Last thing I want is...*touches his forehead again as it is causing him distraught* To...to...*runs off*

She chases after him, and after a short burst tackles him to the ground, and silently holds him down with her supernatural strength.

"...Jon. I've been living with my burdens for years. I've never gotten to share my feelings with anyone I cared about. They were taken or left me before I could ever feel my feelings shared in turn. I'm no longer alone now Jon. ...And neither are you. You can't ever move forward with your life if you run away. You said you'd be there for me, that I wouldn't have to be alone anymore. So let me be there for you, so you don't have to be either." She gently embraces him, and a wave of her tranquil spiritual energy flows into him, like a wave of soothing light.

"Let me help you." She says softly.

''She could never understand. Forever doomed. Forever cursed.''

5x5: All I have ever done was runaway...it was my only solution, when I messed things up for everyone...

''No good. You are mad. Run, little boy. Run to your mommy...if she's there. Better off without anyone. No one that you can hold back.''

5x5: I have been so alone ever since my mom died...and I wasnt really on good terms with the rest of my family...They wanted me to be.different but I could never unlearn what my mom taught me..she was all I had and all I ever needed...*is trying not to cry* Ever since she died alI never had a say in choosing my own life, but I didn't even know what to expect to do with it once I got it...Without her, I felt like everything I was doing was...wrong...

''Hated you. You were different. There was no place for you.''

5x5: *is trying hard not to cry* She had to leave me...

''She left you. She did not want you. You mean nothing to her. She lied to you. You we're too weak. Youaretoo weak.''

She lifts him up and makes him face her. "Not everyone can be strong all the time Jon. There are many kinds of strengths, and many weaknesses in the world. Trying to change the world through discussion and understanding... not everyone can learn to see that way. What does violence even do for the world? All it does is breed more violence. Oppression only leads to more misery. You tried to change the world, but we're all just people. Everyone has their limits... we have to accept that. But that's what makes me like you Jon. You kept something important to you close to your heart, and never gave up, even when you failed. That isn't weakness. That's a strength that will never die.

I can't replace your mother Jon. I can't be her. Perhaps I can't understand what it was like for you. But if I don't try, that just makes me more of a failure for not being there for you. Jon, because you kept that important thing close to your heart, you were able to save a friend, you changed the heart of Kukyo, and ultimately she was free in the end, not out of violence, but because of your compassion. She may be dead Jon, but guess what? Your mother's love, what she taught you? It will never die. She is with you forever. And when you pass on... you'll get to see her again. And she'll be proud of you."

She smiles. "So until then Jon, continue to make her proud. Keep doing what you've always done. Fighting to change the world through compassion, not hate. You're not alone. You have her heart, and you have me. And not just me. You have the rest of us. Our people is one heart and mind. And yours as well."

''Then why do you feel so distant from the world? Why does it feel like you were not guided by the hand of God?''

5x5:..Okay

She embraces him softly, then in a softer voice says, "If you want to move on with your life Jon... you are going to have to face it. No more running. You can't learn to heal, you can't learn to live without first facing your pain and overcoming it. Life is hard. There will always be pain. But running and not letting others help you only makes you wallow deeper, it will only pull you further from happiness. Until the day we die, I won't abandon you."

''You held out for help. They would not help you. Not even the Father would come to your aid. They all left you in the dark. Never to see again. You don't deserve happiness. They have doomed you. The girl knows nothing. She shall never know anything.''

5x5: *humbly embraces Shiroi back, still trying not to cry*

"Look at me Jon. When the time comes that you must leave and join the Father in heaven... I've decided... that I will come with you. You won't be alone. I promise. I will gladly go with you. I would give up my eternal existence so that you could still be with me. But... you have to promise something to me."

Desperate.

5x5: *nods his head* Anything.

She seems to cautiously look at her father, who is busy talking with the town leader. She looks back at 5x5, and she grabs him, and suddenly countless miles pass before him, until they stop at a beach by the ocean.

"Here... he'll not be able to sense us here." She looks at 5x5, and her clothing disappears into mist. Her spirit brand glow much stronger than before, and at the same time as he is started by the change, he strangely is more drawn to the intricate brand's many weaving paths on her body, stretching from both cheeks down each side of her body and ending in graceful curls at her hands and feet, a beautiful woven network of light on her body.

"I want you to promise to make me yours. Sickness and health, times of plenty and times of misfortune. Mark me with your spirit brand, just as I will mark you with mine. ...I'm doing what your people would equivocate to giving you a ring of proposal. It is something I cannot lose, unlike a ring, and is a reminder and sign to allI will never leave you."She says in a firm, determined voice.

''Do not believe. She does not understand.''

5x5: How do I do that?

''Fool! Dooming yourself!''

"Place your hand on my body- whereever you feel the most comfortable doing, and touch my brand and channel your energy into mine. You must hold it steady until I am completely branded."

5x5: *puts his hand on the side of Shiroi's face and his brand starts to glow*

His brand extends down onto her cheek and begins to intertwine with hers, and she flinches as it burns her in a similar way that he had been when she applied his to his body. After several minutes, 5x5 becomes aware of her thoughts and emotions in his own head as his brand finishes intertwining with her.

''That was not pain. It was desperacy. They would not have left her they had truly loved her.''

5x5:..Your mind..so much...abandonment...

''She knows nothing of such and you know it. It happens in Reality all the time. She is just as weak as you are.''

5x5:..She is...

She timidly touches his cheek, her brand slowly spreading to wrap gracefully around his, her energy feeling like a soothing sleep, yet gives him a sharp buzz, as though he had just have five espressos. Thoughts of the past, her first love, which had died in her arms after she had failed to protect him, her withdrawal from other people afterwards, serving Kukyo in her dark palace and slowly opening her heart again, a second love, betrayal... death... disappearance... despair, all drift in her conciousness. She seems to brush the thoughts away, seemingly wanting to forget about the bad times and let a new chance at a new life into her heart.

5x5: *head starting to hurt as he is receiving her memories*

''This is nothing. It happens all the time.''

5x5: So does poverty.

They would have left her if they truly loved her.

He feels her mind slowly connecting with his, but she seems to stop just outside of his boundaries, nervous. She appears as though she is gathering herself. She then slowly reaches and connects with his mind, a soothing contrast of pooling tranquil energy.

5x5: *his mind is agitated even more as it begins to start hurting*

Memories of his childhood. In a room, one shadow monster and another a feminine water spirit are strangling each other. He's peaking into the room and looks horrified and confused at the two figures strangling each other. The water spirit stops and wraps her arm around him. He continues to look at the shadow monster who is staring at him with hatred and resentment. The water spirit takes him out the room and as he leves, he sees another shodow monster only it is the same age as he is. That monster is also staring at him with hatred and even more resentment.

''I'm so sorry.... is that your family....?''

5x5: *His eyes are wide with fear and has a scared and sad look on his face* ...Yes...

''Hated you. She chose you over them and they hated you. They could never forgive you.''

Shiroi embraces 5x5, not releasing her hand from his cheek, as the brand continues to wind around his in delicate swirls, her mind helps to comfort him from the memories with a gentle, reassuring touch, inviting him to take refuge within the quiet hum of her consciousness.

5x5: *embraces Shiroi sort of like how a child hugs its mother. His eyes are now wide with sadness*

As the bond finishes, she slides her hand from his cheek to the back of his head and softly runs her hand through his hair.

"I'm here for you," She says softly.

''No one was ever there for you then. Why should anyone be there for you now? Their lying to you, Jonny.''

5x5: *has more of a worried look on his face now mixed with the sadness of his eyes*

She pulls away slightly, and looks at him with a slight air of hurt. She points to the brand. "Jonothan Waltz." She stresses his name out sharply. "A soul brand is a visible extension of one's soul. Within the brand I placed upon you I imbued my promise to never leave you. In sickness in health, times of wealth and times of poverty. In times of joy and times of grief. And I will keep that promisewhen we go together to the next life.That is the promise of my bond with you. ...Is that not enough for you?" She ends off with a low whisper of pain.

5x5: *tears start streaming down his face* I don't know...My whole life I felt stuck...l-like I had nowhere to go...L-like what ever I do didn't make any sense...I felt like I was lost in a fog...fog filled with people who continued walking...cause they knew what to do....L-like right now...I don't even know what brought me here...or why my life was so messed up...or why I try to help the other myths...everything feels so...blank now...when I look back...like I don't feel anything for my actions...I don't feel pain...I don't feel happiness...Just...stuck...*looks up into the skies*

He sees a giant hand descending from the clouds unto him and as he reaches for the hand it shatters into broken glass and falls all around 5x5. He looks back up into the clouds and sees he skies going dark. The broken glass become cracks in the earth and it gives away under 5x5. 5x5 falls into the darkness below him, catching the last glimpse of sunlight disappear. A giant-diseased looking hand comes from under 5x5 and grabs hold of him and pulls him into the darkness.

5x5: I believed...

''God has abandoned you. Doomed I tell you. Doomed.''

She grabs his face and makes him look her square in the eye. "Listen to me. When I first met you, I saw a person confused and unsure of where he wanted to take himself. Yet you immediately chose to follow me and start over. Jon. You tell me, is this starting over, or are you the one making the lies? You are the only one responsible foryouractions. It is the same for anyone else. Your mother, your father, your brother, they all love you. We can help guide you, but you must be the one to steer your life.

The only one who has abandoned you is you. That's why you're stuck. If you want to finally move forward in your life, thenstop blaming yourself for things you cannot control.Your mother's death was not your fault. Them breaking up wasnot your fault,and''only you can accept that. Only you can take back your life. Stop abandoning yourself."''

''Hhmhm. She does not know what I know. Not even you know what I know and we share the same mind.''

5x5: She's right...

No she's not.

5x5:What do you know? Your just a figment of my imagination.

I am, aren't I? It was nice mesiing your mind up, again.

5x5: *shakes his head* Bastard...

Shiroi looks at him. "We should get back before-"

"Beforewhat?" Her father's voice rings across from behind them, either great anger or great irritation marring his voice.

5x5: It's not here fault. She was helping me..cope with some trauma I was feeling. She took me here to calm my mind. I can't say it will last forever, but it worked.

He walks over to them, and then he sees the new brand on 5x5's face, and then the one on Shiroi. His eyes widen, and his pupils narrow almost to slits. He looks towards 5x5.

"You didn't...."

5x5: *sighs* Yes. It is what you think it is this time. but you said it yourself, your daughter is old enough to make her own choices and I am no father or anything, but every father should support their children's decisions. What's the matter with that anyway?

His face seems violently pale. "...do you realize... ...do you even know... what the significance of what you've done is...?"

5x5: No, but judging by the look no your face, it seems bad.

He slowly closes his eyes. "...Come with me, Jonothan." He says slowly.

5x5:...Ugghh..Okay.*follows behind him*

He leads him only a short distance away, just outside earshot.

"...You need to know something. We all have our flaws. With spirits, we usually exist based around a basic principle... but because of that, we also have a... 'Fundamental Flaw'. Even I have my own flaw... paranoia. I need to ask you something. If you really are serious... no... the brand is proof of that..."

5x5: I'm just as flawed. I'm not sure if was thinking before I did it, but i know one thing. I did for Shiroi and I trust her with my life as she trust me with her life. *thinks a little bit* More or less.

He looks at 5x5. "Shiroi didn't act like she does now when you first met her, right? She was more... restrained... am I right?"

5x5: I don't know. She seems the same to me. The only time she seemed different was when I gave her pancakes. Why ? Is there a problem?

"...More or less... you. Shiroi is normally extremely emotionally reserved... however, she usually lacks any sense of 'pleasure' in her life as a result of being a Tranquility. ...It is very easy for a spirit such as her to become obsessive if not possessive of something that gives them a strong sense of pleasure. This behavior can lead to the spirit degrading into a Negative. ...For a long time, I've not seen her this happy. But... just be careful that if after you ever decide to become intimate with her... if she seems as though she gets... addicted... to something, I need you to make sure you avoid doing that thing that overstimulates her. ...I don't want to lose my daughter... not to something like a Negative."

I told you.

5x5: I see. Sort of like an overdose. I understand. i will do whatever I can to prevent that happening to her.

"...Thank you. ...I wish she had honored my wishes in her taking her time in this relationship... but it is not my place... I know though you are capable of being the man she deserves... just make sure that you are that man when it counts... I know you are capable of being stronger than your darkness." He places a hand on 5x5's shoulder, and he has a softer cast to his eyes. "And I promise that as her father I shall welcome you into my household as if you were of my own. Misgivings do not belong in the affairs of family."

5x5: *puts his hand on Kyandashia's wrist* I understand...I want to be that man you and Shiroi see in me. I can feel it inside of me.Last thing I want is to break her mending heart, because I wasn't being that man you see in me.

He walks back to Shiroi, who looks at 5x5 anxiously. "Are you alright?"

5x5: *slightly smiles* I'm fine. I can see you were probably worried.

Her father looks at them both. "I think it's time we headed out to home."

Shiroi blinks, and her clothes appear, changing into a long thick dress. "Jon needs better clothes."

5x5: that sounds like the bestest idea since the creation of SETI.

Shiroi makes a thick fur coat appear for 5x5, matching his size.

5x5: *wraps his arms around himself* Feels cozy. Thanks.

Her father closes his eyes, and they arrive back at the village. "Shall we head out then?"

Shiroi cheers. "Road trip!"

5x5: A road trip isn't a road trip unless we're driving. Which I highly doubt we are.

"What's 'driving?'" Shiroi asks, tilting her head to one side as she walks.

5x5: Something we're not going to be doing.

"Is it that bad?" She asks, confused.

5x5: Heck yea it would. Let's not worry about it anyways.

The Village
Shiroi runs up to the entrance of a massive snow covered valley that looks as though there is no end to it, along the whole center region a massive oddly rectangular lake stretches for miles. "We're here!" Shirori says cheerfully. All 5x5 sees is a bunch of snow.

5x5: I wonder if you guys have a Santa Claus here.

"...Santa Claus? ...I swear, you people from Earth have interesting names!" She giggles.

5x5: I could say the same with you guys. *gives a small smile*

Shiroi looks at 5x5. "So you can't see the village right now, that's correct?"

5x5: No, but I know it's there.

She smiles. "Ready to see? Might want to brace yourself. Will you be fine without my help or do you think you can adjust now since we've practiced a bit?"

5x5: Let me try by myself. *tries his hand at it and bgins to see a faint image* I think I'm starting to see it...

What appears before him takes his breath away. A settlement which could only be described as a city sprawls before him. Many graceful and beautiful homes dot the landscape, but looks as though they merge, rather than overcome with the land. There are gardens filled with countless flowers, and it's only now that he can smell many beautiful scents, and hear the sound of peaceful music. Adorning the valley walls are even grander homes built into the sides, with a single massive almost palace like one nested in the center section of the city.

Shiroi smiles. "Welcome home."

5x5: It's...so amazing...I've never seen anything like it.

She looks at her father. "May we go home?"

He gives her a look. "What do all newcomers have to do, Shiroi?"

"...They have to be greeted by the elders...." She moans.

"That's right. Now take him to the family home and introduce him."

She looks at 5x5. "We have to go make sure the village elders sign you in as a member of our family now. ...I'd rather be home right now..."

5x5: Sometimes, I tell myself the same thing. Even though sometimes I really don't mean it.

Shiroi smiles. "Shall we go?" She takes his hand.

5x5 *holds on to her hand a bit tighter* Yea. Lets.

Shiroi walks him through the tranquil streets, many of the residents greet him, but he notices an interesting look. They all appear genuinely friendly, but still look as though they are peering at his inner nature, trying to figure him out. Finally after many greetings and salutations, they arrive at the central large house, and walk up the stairs.

"You'll get to meet my mother soon! She's so beautiful Jon, you'll love her!" Shiroi chirps with excitement.

5x5: *smiles* I bet I will. It must have been awhile since you've seen your mother.

She walks all the way up the stairs, and walks up to a set of grand doors of what look like ice, and pushes them open. "Mother, I'm home! I have someone I want you to meet!" She calls out joyfully.

A beautiful white haired woman with gleaming golden eyes like Shiroi looks up from a book she was reading, as she sits on a simple oak throne of sorts. She smiles when she sees Shiroi, and Shiroi runs up to her and embraces her.

The woman looks towards 5x5, and she gives him a very similar, almost motherly smile. "And who might you be, young man?" Her eyes show brilliant warmth and kindness.

5x5: Jonothan Waltz. Pleased to meet you, ma'am. *nods in acknowledgement*

"Dear, please call me Shimo Rirī, Frost Lilly. 'Ma'am' is unnecessary here. I see you and Shiroi have bonded. I can't imagine how annoyed Kyōdaina must have been at you two." She laughs lightly.

5x5: Yea...*remembers what Kyodaina told him before they had left and starts to feel uneasy*

She beckons him to come closer. "Be at ease, Jonothan. I trust and believe in you. You have a different air about you than the other men she had in her life. A more hopeful one. And you have our guidance. Welcome to our family, Jonothan." She smiles.

5x5: *smiles back* Thank you so much, Miss Riri.

She smiles exasperatedly. "You're welcome dear. Is there any specific things you would like to study while you stay with us Jon?"

5x5: Hmmm. I could study just about everything you got.

"I see. Well, run along now, but would you kindly join us for dinner tonight? We have much to talk about."

5x5: Oh sure thing, Miss Riri.

"Don't worry about the elders, I'll tell them for you."

Shiroi smiles. "Really? So we can go home now?"

"Yes dear. You can go home."

"Yeaa!" She grabs ahold of 5x5's arm. "Come on, let's go! I'll show you where I live!"

5x5: *is being dragged along*Wow, she must be really happy to be back home.

Shiroi smiles as they walk together. "This'll be the first time in years since I had anyone living with me at home, you know? And... I'm just... really happy. To be here, with you, with my family... I love you Jon!" She chirps, then sighs contently.

5x5: *pulls her close to him and embraces her*

She hugs him back for a moment, and then asks, "Can I have more sugar?" She asks innocently.

5x5: No.

"Awwwwwwww...." She pauses and looks over at a woman sitting alone at a park bench, who seems to be quietly watching the ripples in a nearby pond. "...Sabireta....." She mutters.

When 5x5 looks at her confused, she shakes her head. "It's nothing. Let's leave her be."

5x5: *looks at the woman for a little longer* Ok. I'm coming.

Shiroi leads him to a small house in comparison to the others, a bit further away from anything else, surrounded by a few ponds and gardens. She looks over at 5x5. "This is where we live."

5x5: It looks beautiful. I never been in a house before and never seen a garden either.

"Well it's your house, well, our house, but you know. Want to come inside?"

5x5: Sure thing. I never been inside one neither.

Shiroi takes him to the front door, and opens it, revealing a central living room with a hallway leading out to three different bedrooms, to the far right side next to one of the bedrooms is a kitchen, the layout seems very simple.

5x5: *is fascinated* Oooooohhhhhh. So clean...so...homey, if you can count that as a word.

She points to the right bedroom. "That is my room. The left one is for you. The middle one.... ....is for special occasions."

5x5: Well doesn't our spiritual marriage count? *smiles*

"I suppose. What do you see in our future, when you think of us together?"

5x5: I feel like our future has never shined so much brighter before in our lives. *smiles and holds Shiroi's hands*

She holds him closer. "So you want to sleep in the middle room? Shall I fully manifest my being for you then?"

5x5: Hm. Go on ahead.

He feels a sharp increase in energy around him and she starts feeling more there, and he can almost sense her entire being compacting into a small sphere deep in her chest, and he starts feeling body heat coming from her as a soft heartbeat, real and organic begins to thud softly in her body, and she takes in a breath, and he can tell a severe difference, its alive and real breath.

She sits down on the couch and invites him to sit next to her, tugging at him with real flesh and muscle in her arms.

5x5: *sits next to her* Even in a physical body, you're still strong.

She shrugs. "Evolutionary wise it's insignificant. We really don't need physical bodies that much. It's convient for interacting with other mortal beings ....and reproduction...." She blushes when she says that last word, "But besides that we pretty much can exist without ever returning to mortal form. The only time we usually are in physical form is in our childhood, when our spiritual power is too small to take form, and many spiritual forces could easily snuff out our forms."

5x5: I'm pretty sure your saying that only to get your mind off the reproduction part. Besides, you do live in a world where most of it is inhabited by spiritual beings, so that much I guessed.

She squirms slightly and blushes. "Now you're just embarrassing me. Mean...."

5x5: Sorry about that. But you do look rather adorable when your embarrassed.

"You know, I meant something more when I asked about your thoughts about our future. I know it's a bit recent to think, but.... ....I still want to know what you see us doing as a couple together. What do you want to do? See the world? Settle down here and enjoy life? ....Raise a family? Have you any thoughts on our relationship like that? Or would you rather not think on it right now? I guess it's true about what they say about men being oblivious." She laughs lightly.

5x5:....I'm sort of like that to. But I have my entire life to think about that and maybe while I'm thinking, I'll be already be doing it.

She smiles faintly. "If you'd like to go lay down for a while in the middle room, we can do so until dinner. If you'd like to have a little bit of fun, I don't mind, though I do enjoy our naps all the same. It's been a eventful journey here.... I don't ever want to forget this."

5x5: I don't mind. We can have some fun later after dinner.

Shiroi walks into the middle room, undressing before crawling into her side of the bed, he's noticed she always tends to sleep on the right side. She lets out a small content sigh as she settles into the bed, looking up at him with a gentle happy look in her eyes.

5x5: *smiles back* Or we can have fun now...whichever or.

"Entirely your choice. Whatever you desire more I will accept happily. I merely just want to enjoy our time together. However we might choose to spend it."

5x5: Well in that case...*leaps unto the bed next to Shiroi*

"Diving straight in I see?" She laughs.

5x5: It's a thing me and my brother would do after a long days work. It made it more fun to be tired.

"I see." She lightly kisses him on the forehead.

5x5: Soo I get undressed and stuff, right?

"That depends. You don't need my permission Jon. Do what you want. If you want them on fine, but if we 'play they might have to come off. I don't care which you choose. Besides, we've already shared a bed before, it isn't that new."

5x5: Ok then. Strip. *takes of his clothes and gets under the covers* Feels sort of cold under here.

She gently hugs him. "I can help with that a little." She raises her body heat a bit to help warm him.

5x5: *hold her closer to him* So you're like the Human heater now? not really human, but I guess you know what I'm getting at.

"Voluntarily controlling my body is second nature, I can teach you various tricks using spiritual powers to make your control more efficient some time." She sighs happily in his arms.

5x5: I would like that.

"Mmmmm...." She lets out a small hum as she nestles her head against him.

5x5: *eye begin to sleepely close*

After a while, he feels Shiori's hands gently tug on him. "Hey, it's time for dinner with the family." She says softly.

5x5: *moans* Alright. *gets out of bed and gets dressed*

She hugs him after she gets up and proper. "Excited?"

5x5: I don't really know. Never met someone elses family before.

Shiori takes his hand. "First time for everything, right? Don't worry, you'll have fun!"

5x5: Ok...Fun. *faintly smiles out of nervousness*

He feels an extension of calming energy from her. "Relax... it'll be just fine. You have nothing to worry about!" She says with a smile.

5x5: Ok. I trust you, Shiroi.

......

Shimo Rirī and Kyōdaina sit at a family sized dinner table, large enough to seat them comfortably as well as have plenty of room for the dinner.

Shimo Rirī smiles at Jon. "I trust you have been antiquated with your home now, Jon?" She says after eating a few slices of well spiced meat.

Kyōdaina merely observes Shiori and 5x5 on occasion, at other times choosing to seemingly ponder something, other times stays focused on his meal.

5x5: Yes, ma'am. I'm still getting used to it. Never been n a place this big that was covered with metal.

Kyōdaina shows a strained expression towards 5x5. "Jon, please. Call us by our names."

Shimo Rirī laughs. "He'll learn, Kyōdaina. Don't worry Jon, you'll get used to it. The people and this city is your home, I genuinely hope you will come to feel at ease here."

5x5: Well it's not that I don't feel calm here. It's just the way i've been raised. to say 'Yes sir', No sir'. 'Yes ma'am.', 'No ma'am.' For me it would sound like disrespect.

Shimo Rirī smiles faintly. "I see. Status among us is an illusion. You could say we are royalty or high class, anything that applies to our position, but we are merely respected members of the society popularly chosen to serve and run the community and to keep relations strong with our kin. We don't believe in titles or things like that. Everyone is equal, and everyone offers their names to each other here. It's sort of just a way we bond together."

5x5: Well it's not much as a title, more like respect-wise. Not like in status. Just sort, in manners.

Shimo Rirī shakes her head while smiling. "I know. It would just be nice if you could call me by name, you are my son in law pretty much after all. Shimo Rirī or even just Shimo. Please. It's like me just calling you 'Son in Law'."

5x5: *nods* Ok.

"In any case, I thought it would be best to give you an overall overview of Spiritual Energy to start you off in teaching. Is there any kind of subject that interests you? Science, literature, any of those?" She asks.

5x5: I don't know. We were taught those back at in the facility but in terms of just spirits. I wouldn't know where to start.

"I was just wondering how far you were educated, not necessarily in spirit terms."

5x5: Back on Earth, we're only educated to an 8th to 9th grade level and we we're taught how to contain myths from there.

"I see. Well, of anything that you were taught, did any of it interest you?"

5x5: Here and there it did. Learned about the history of many races and hybrids. Where you would most likely find them. Learned how to trap them. Their weaknesses. All that. Pretty intriguing stuff.

"...I see... I meant more on the lines of science and stuff like that."

"Yea, there was heredity. You know with the Punnet Square and um inherited traits. How to use magnets for electricity uses. And Intergrated Chemistry and Physics as it pertains to us doing our jobs.

Shimo Rirī sighs. "I imagine we'll have you learn arts and crafts, Shiori could help you with that."

5x5: Arts..and crafts...? Like how to make a home-made bomb or home-made tear gas?

Shiroi shakes her head. "No Jon, like how to make flutes or drums, or paintings, that sort of thing. That's more like... ...weapon making."

5x5: Does reassembling a energy sniper count?

"....No, Jon, making a weapon doesn't fall under arts and crafts. I can show you how to make a flute, would you like that?"

5x5: *nods his head*

"Then I'll teach you tomorrow afternoon, ok?" Shiroi says.

5x5: *nods* Ok.

They eventually finish, and continue their conversations for a while. Eventually a knock on the door is heard, and 5x5 sees the woman by the lake Shiori had pointed out, the woman she has refereed to as Sabireta.

Shimo Rirī promptly gets up and the two women walk of, beginning to talk to one another, while Shiori watches Sabireta until she is out of sight.

5x5: *is abit confused* Is she a friend of your mothers?

"....My aunt. ...And Kado's mother."

5x5:....whaaaaaaaaaaat....

"Hmmm?" She asks, confused.

5x5: I thought...you know..his parents were....dead. Or atleast just his mother.

"They are alive... the clan is scattered across the land, no one is certain where they set up their new location."

5x5: *thinks for a moment* Huh...

"Many things are obscure, even the greatest of us can only know so much... ...anyway, how was dinner?"

5x5: *nods* It went better than I expected.

"See, nothing to worry about! You're fitting in perfectly!" Shiori says with a smile.

5x5: Nothing is ever perfect. In this case, it went alright. Thanks, Shiroi.

"You're welcome. Would you like to learn how to make a flute before we head to bed?"

5x5: *smiles* I would love that.

She takes his hand and pulls him along. "Follow me to the secret workshop!"

5x5: *follows behind her* Why secret?

"Because people love my flutes. Gotta keep the secret going~"

5x5: Ahh, Clever.

She leads him to a blank wall. "Now, tell me, is that a solid wall?"

5x5: No.

Searching the North
Lord Endlos and Alexian arrive at the snowy stretches of the north, and at first things seem normal, until a blizzard seems to whip up out of nowhere, as though it was hastily making an attempt to hide something. They can hear something faint and soft against the wind, something sounding like running in the deep snow.

"Hm, this seems to have been the correct area to visit," thinks Endlos, aloud. "Alexian, would you?"

"Already ahead of you, Erde," replies the human barely affected by the weather, if at all, despite his thin cloak and short sleeved shirt. He lifts a hand and a tiny pulse of light comes from his hand. He perks his head up then nods before speaking, "Yeah, they're here, but they're afraid. The souls in the area can't exactly tell me where they are, but they can detect them."

"I see," says Endlos before raising his voice, "Hello? I'm here to talk, not bring you harm. Can you tell me about a woman by the name of Caess?"

They hear the footsteps stop, and then a single pair of footsteps can be heard slowly crunching in the snow, gradually growing louder and closer. Eventually the lone footsteps stops. A icy cold blade of ice appears, though no hand or side of a hilt of any kind can be seen, the end of it obscured. The distance between the owner and them must be still great.

".....How do you know the name of my mother Caess?"A young male's voice, though marred by a tone of anger, and a tone of gurgling water and scraping ice. The blade absolutely radiates a cold far stronger than the surrounding snow and ice.

"Your mother? I see," says the king, "Your mother was one of my subjects before she vanished years ago. While I did not know Caess personally, I care for the safety of my people more than my life, so when I learned that an Endlos had vanished for more than a few days I grew worried and had the Spirits investigate. Only recently did I hear that beings that may have been Endlos hybrids living in the north, hence my presence here." Endlos keeps his tone even the entire time he speaks. "I am here to personally verify Caess' safety, so if she is here, may I meet with her for but a moment?"

The blizzard calms down, and a young adult made of ice and what appears to be flowing water underneath the ice, wearing ragged clothes becomes visible, his eyes glowing blue. A similar being, though a graceful female, with equally tattered clothing trails behind him, slightly behind the male and peaking out from behind him, just a head smaller than the male. His hair creaks with the blowing of the wind.

"Caess isn't here. Only me and my sister. Our sister and our mother... ....I don't know if they still live after the incident."

The male's eyes narrow at the word 'incident'.

"Please explain," requests the king in a still even tone, though his voice seems to be louder despite not changing volume. "If someone is responsible for harming a subject of mine, they will be punished direly." Endlos' last phrase is frigid in tone.

"Our mother, Caess, she was taken by the Warlords of Water and Ice, and they.... twisted her form into something like what you see us as. After they lost the wars here and on Earth and were subsequently sealed within the Slayers of Phoenix, our mother didn't know where to go or what to do, so she fled further north, knowing the shapeshifters bore a grudge against her existence, and ironically met a kind shapeshifter who helped her cope with her form and even worked to create a 'replica' form she could use with her. He was our father. They eventually became a couple, and eventually had me, then my sister behind me, and finally our youngest, Aoi, who miraculously was not born like us.

''We were happy for a while, but when Aoi became ten.... ....they found us. An organization, no less than the one that defeated the Warlords all those years ago, came and demanded of us that Aoi be made one of their members, holder of the Ice Slayer. ...Our mother and Aoi refused their leader, and in cold retaliation killed father in front of our eyes. ...It broke our little sister, and under threat of killing our mother, the woman forced Aoi to become a member of the organization. After that, she captured mother and tried to come after us. We escaped, and have lived many long years not knowing what has become of them. We care not about justice for what the Warlords did to our mother. It was long ago and they already endure a punishment well enough. But our father is dead and our mother and little sister we know not the fates of after that. We tried to follow but could not. Now we cannot even sense any of the organization."''

He bows his head. "I fear whoever those people are.... ....they have completely left Echo behind. We know not where they lurk now. Along with mother and sister."

"I see," says Endlos, his voice strained as the ground beneath him cracks and his shadow warps into that of an armored figure with a giant gauntlet and and three swords larger than the gauntlet floating around it. The king's voice hardens. "Thank you, I have an idea where to find the answers we both seek thanks to you. Hopefully, if we meet again, it will be to unite you with your mother and sister. Until then, be safe." Without another word, Endlos storms towards the Central Wilds with Alexian in pursuit.

"H-Hey! Slow down, dammit!"

A man seems to just appear out of the snow, Endlos recognising him instantly. The man has a silver pistol out, and a scarf over his mouth. He walks over to the King and grunts a greeting, not uncovering his mouth and making sure to holster the pistol in his jaket before bowing, and going to one knee.

"Pixel, you've arrived. At ease, we're heading to the Central Wilds," says the king, not halting for an instant. Alexian trails slightly behind Endlos.

"Erde, slow down," he yells after the king.

The guard stands, catching up with the King. He grunts and motions to his gun as if to ask to pull it out, as well as straightening his jaket and pulling up his scarf.

"Not until a valid reason is eevident."

-Act Three: The Gathering of Angels-
The Tower of Heaven. This was where Alexian had been led as he followed the trail of the presence he hadn't felt since he left behind what was left of his regular life.

"Seraphina," calls the teen as he reaches the tower gate. He hears the tickling whisper of the sould that follow him, warning him of something to come, but he ignores them as he approaches the gate. "You're here... I know you are."

The tower grounds gate opens for him, various spirits are working the gardens, some in meditation, and others are simply strolling. The clouds covering the top of the tower momentarily part, and he thinks he sees a glowing figure dressed in a lavender kimono, but the clouds obscure the top too quickly.

Alexian enters the tower grounds and glances around before approaching the tower itself. ''Who was that? Could it have been Sera- No, it couldn't have been her...''

A spirit in brown robes standing at the door notices him approach the tower. "Is there something you need of the Queen, sir?" He asks politely.

"Maybe. I'm lookng for someone," Alexian explains, "I felt her presence here, in fact I still do. Has a young woman with black and white hair come through here? She doesn't talk much and wears simple dresses for the most part..."

"Not to my knowledge. If she does I can keep an eye out if you'd like."

"Thank-" The teen suddenly clutches his head and falls to the ground. His vision blurs and the scenery of the tower is replaced by that of a completely white plain. He hears the sound of thousands of souls attempting to speak to him at once when a caw cuts through the noise. A raven lands near Alexian, blue flames coming from its beak.

"It grows near," the raven squawks before flying off and the scene warps back to the tower, albeit brighter to the disoriented teen.

The man looks at him in concern. "Are you alright?"

"I don't really know," Alexian says, squinting to block out the increased brightness. He has a terrible migraine all of sudden and its hard for him to focus before his vision fades and he faints.

A cool breeze wakes him up, and he is laying down in the presence of a woman with a light lavender colored veil, and a white-lavender colored

kimono with dark purple inner layers, with light white tinted purple hair and lavender eyes, busily drawing on a scroll with a brush and black ink, her head bowed to the scroll as she works, when she finishes, she taps a dot at the end of her lines, and the line of scroll glows and vanishes into blue powder, which she sprinkles over him, and a light blue barrier forms over him, neutralizing the effect of the positive energy in the air from touching him.

"Better?" She asks quietly, a sort of gentle humor to her voice.

"Y-yeah, thanks," Alexian strains, looking around slowly, "What exactly happened to me? Where am I, ma'am?" "You fell unconscious, my attendants told me you reacted badly to the positive energy in the area, so I had them bring you to me. We are at the top of The Tower of Heaven. I've always thought it a bit presumptuous a name. I am the Queen of the Positive Spirits of this land. My attendants tell me you seek a girl of some description."

"Yes, I'm looking for a girl with predominantly white hair, though she has a black patch close to her face. She wears simple dresses, often of a single color and tends not to talk to many people," he explains, "I feel her presence in the area, but I can't discern where she is beyond in this area."

The woman's eyes shift off over the edge of the tower, off in the distance.

"I would suspect she is drawn here by the energies. Out of caution, I have been keeping a close eye on her presence, though as to what she wants, I do not know."

She opens a scroll, and begins inscribing it.

"Balance," sighs Alexian, "Sera has a condition that prevents her from balancing positive and negative energies for long periods of time. I don't know what caused it, but its side effects aren't pretty."

The woman continues drawing. "I see." She appears to be inscribing the form of some kind of being repeatedly, but somehow in multiple angles with the ink, until she creates enough images to appear as though if put together, it could become 3D. She makes various writings, diagrams, and charts of varying degrees of complexity, until she stops and creates a dot at the end of it, causing all of the lines to glow blue, before a pair of strange winged creatures with a cavity that looks big enough to seal up a person inside on their chests come into being, and the woman whispers something to them, and they fly off immediately in a very particular direction, one of them seemingly grabbing nothing with the cavity, only to reveal Seraph as it closes its cavity around her, and flies back to them, dropping Seraph on the opposite end of the tower, and then fading into blue mist.

"I believe this young man is looking for you." The Queen says calmly, already making more brushwork. A circle with an outer layer of strange symbols is made, and she creates another dot, causing a protection barrier to erect around the Queen.

"Now why don't you two catch up, since you're both here?" She says, noting the scroll of paper is exhausted. She reaches over and pulls out another scroll from a bag next to her and begins again.

Several emotions pass through Seraph's eyes: starting at startled, then moving to furious then finally stopping on hurt. She nods faintly at Alexian, who repeats the gesture. Neither say anything for a few moments, making the atmosphere awkward until Seraph chooses to speak.

"It's been awhile, Alexian," she says softly, almost as quiet as a whisper. The teen only nods. "At least you're alright... You're all that matters after all." It is rather difficult to understand if Seraph was insulting Alexian's character or if she was being serious because of the placidity of her tone.

The Queen continues to inscribe on her scroll. "Judging from what I am told as well as your behavior, you're after positive energy, are you not?" She says in an indifferent tone.

Seraph nods, but keeps her gaze on Alexian who shifts uncomfortably.

"Sera, it's good that you're-"

"Don't say that word," reprimands the girl, anger suddenly filling her eyes, "I've never been 'good' or 'well' or 'fine', never. You only made that worse when you left us..." Alexian winces and sighs.

"Look, I'm sorry," he says, "A lot of things happened and it was either leave or get you all killed because I couldn't control what was happening."

"Don't be, all of us died the day you left. Most of the others died again for various other reasons after that."

The Queen continues inscribing her scroll, writing complex formulas. A bird lands on her shoulder, chirping softly. The Queen continues listening to them talk as she works.

"So either way I failed," laments Alexian before sighing, "Of all things, I view that as my greatest mistake, but I don't know how I'd fix it even if I had the chance to. I didn't want to endanger any of you, yet my decision still cost all of you." Seraph looks down, the anger in her eyes draining before she rubs her forehead and sighs.

"It's impossible to stay angry with you Alexian. I'd really like to, but I can't."

The Queen looks up at Seraph, before creating a dot at last. The whole line of diagrams and formulas glow, and begin to condense in a large blue sphere of energy above the scroll, radiating a large amount of positive energy.

"Will this sphere be enough to satiate your needs?" She asks.

Seraph nods, though her eyes remain downcast. "Temporarily."

"I see." She takes out a strange glass sphere and twists half of it, and it opens, sucking the sphere of energy into it.

"This sphere can naturally over time draw positive energy into it. There is a limit to how much it can contain at any time, but it could help you provided you were to time when you drew from it." She closes the sphere and tosses it at Seraph, giving her a kind smile.

Seraph nods again, "Thank you." She looks at the orb before it vanishes into somewhere. She takes a glance at Alexian. "Truce?"

The teen prepares his own answer when a melodious, yet monotone voice interrupts.

"So this is where you wandered off to, Seraphim. I see that you are keeping... interesting company." The voice makes Alexian narrow his eyes.

"So it's you," he frowns as Helios materializes beside Seraph. "What do youwant?"

The Queen looks over at the two. "Keep your peace. Do not quarrel within my sanctuary."

"That is not my intention, madam," replies Helios, "I am merely here to assess Seraphim's condition and ask that you awaken Alexiel's familiar." If Alexian's eyes could narrow further, they do.

"Oh, no no no," he says shaking his head, "I will not be involved in one of Zwei's schemes. He's already cost me enough as is." This time Helios' eyes narrow as they flicker golden.

"You have no choice in the matter, not if you want to save your precious person and the Kaiju," the humanoid counters. Seraph looks at the two, confused, not understanding what the two males are debating.

"I'm afraid I do not take such a request that often. My art is not a weapon, but a thing of beauty. I will not accept a request, especially if it does not come genuinely wanted, or if it intends to perverse the beauty of my art with violence. And stay your tempers."

"Madam, with all due respect Alexiel does not understand the gravity of the situation at hand nor does he realize how much danger he will be in if he is not awakened," says Seraph, "People important to him are in danger as well as many others that he does not know. I am not permitted to explain more than that, but I can say that not releasing his familiar will lead to something very unfortunate, at least according to my creator."

"And why am I needed in this? Couldn't Zwei just contact a Yama to handle this?"

"If it were that simple, Anira, Alisa and Iylessa would be safe and sound for the most part," answers Helios before Seraph intervenes, preventing Alexian from.

"Stop it both of you. Fighting will get us nowhere." The two male grumble and glare at each other, but a pointed glare from for Seraph causes them to grudgingly cease with the hostilities.

The Queen stands for the first time since Alexian arrived, and with this movement a change comes in her aura that although not threatening, it clearly indicates a more tensed tone to her normally peaceful energy.

"I can see that your creator acts from the shadows. If he is not honest enough to appear before me, what good is the word of his messenger? I already have sensed from your spirit, one called Helios, that your master is not above deception to get what he desires, and has angered many, and equally has betrayed that number. My craft does not belong to that of the dishonest, nor the wicked."

Helios' eyes flare golden. "That man is not my 'master.' The only reason I even listen to his orders is because Asteria feels that she owes him a great debt despite the amount of things that we've gone through because of that man's machinations," he states, anger entering his tone, "But I digress. As much as I hate him, I can't fault him for doing something good for once... As much as it irks me to say this, my creator is trying to help out a lot of people... Urg, that felt absolutely vileto say, but it is true... I think. As for why he isn't here, he should be preparing a spell or something that's going to drain his energy entirely."

"Ultimately it is still not your place to decide anything."

One of her scrolls levitates and unwinds in the air, loosely flowing between Alexian and the Queen.

"Decide for yourself if you want, Alexian. I will allow for an exception this time." Her gaze turns back towards Helios, the sudden force of it making him want to drop to his knees.

"Tell your creator not to ask of me for anything again unless he comes to me in person. I will hear no more requests otherwise. And he shall earn them."

Her head turns towards Alexian. "Accept or not, it is your choice."

".... Why not," sighs the teen, "If Annie and Lessa in trouble, I'll have to do something, so sure, I accept." He doesn't notice the look of jealousy and sadness that passes through Seraph's eyes or the shadow that follows.

Helios laughs as he forces himself to stand. "Oh trust me, I have a long list of complaints and critiques to give him, that being one of them. I hate being his errand boy, though if it keeps Asteria happy, I'll endure. That being said, at least you are reasonable to deal with. I'd probably visit this place often if I was free because of the atmosphere and scenery..." Helios begins to daydream...

She begins writing a long complex formula, rather than drawing any symbols or designs. Only toward the very end, does she create a symbol, a basic bird surrounded by a circle. Instead of finishing with a dot, she suddenly grabs Alexian's right hand and begins to draw more formula on it, all the way up his arm, then drawing dots on each of his finger tips. He notices as she draws his arm stings as though she placed embers on it.

"If you agree to it, place your finger tips with the ink on the circle, do not touch the bird or it will contaminate and not work."

Alexian does his best not to touch the bird as he touches the circle. Hmm, this fabric is nic- No, no texture analysis can wait...

The Queen places her hand on his, and the markings all glow blue, creating a stronger burning sensation, as the scroll burns up into a thick black smoke.

From the center of the smoke emerges a crow seeming composed of solidified black smoke, with blue and orange embers flowing from its plumage. In its beak is a trailing sphere of blue and white flames. It cocks an eye at Alexian before speaking.

'''"I am Shiki Ouji, the Versatile Assisstant and greatest of Shikigami. It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Lord Alexian." '''Alexian looks dumbfounded.

"Is this supposed to happen," he asks the Queen, confused.

"I didn't make a misstep in my designs, so I would assume so. Is there something odd?" She asks with unreadable eyes.

"I- No, it's nothing. I'm probably just a bit mentally drained."

The Queen opens her hand, and the scroll he signed turns red and closes, then flies into her hand and then she extends it towards him.

"The scroll can be used to summon him if necessary." A bottle of ink appears as well. "This bottle will refill itself if you set it out in the rain. That way you won't have to visit me to refill the ink."

"I see, thank you again," Alexian bows and accepts the items before Helios hoists him upwards and takes Seraph's hands.

"Thank you for your time, madam," nods the humanoid, "May peace remain with you." With that, the humanoid vanishes in a storm of feathers and light with the two teens.

The Queen watches them go, then sighs. "Might as well paint some more.... ....never even asked my name." She sits down, and continues her work.

The Lost Twins of Frost
When Kalin, Aoi, and Caess arrive, they are in a vast snowy plain, a severe temperature drop shock hits Kalin.

Aoi sighs. "Oh well, the quest begins... I wonder where they are..."

Kalin shivered slightly, as the cold seemed to irritate him more than normal. "Well, I could probably sniff them out."

Crouching, with his hand to the frozen earth, Kalin began to focus. Sending out his spiritual energy as far as it could reach in all directions for a full minute before standing with a sigh. "I got nothing concrete. there's something out there, but I couldn't pin down a location..."

Aoi starts, as a voice rings out in the icy wasteland.

"I'm telling you, I've picked something up, you impatient savage!" A voice yells irritably.

"And I'm telling you... ...that we're lost. And.... WHY THE HELL ARE WE NOT IN THE PLAINS, INSTEAD OF BEING IN THIS GODFORSAKEN DUMP?!" Another voice roars at the first.

Aoi looks at Kalin, and quietly whispers, "It's Torrent! One of the members of Phoenix! ....there's no way they could...."

She is interrupted by the sight of two figures appearing from the frozen mists. One is a man with a cloth mask over the bottom half of his face, and wearing a fur coat, and the other is a white haired man with a sly grin on his face, wearing a white robe that billows in the northern wind.

The man in the cloth mask lets out an amused chuckle. "Here I am, sent on a mission to find Noriko, and of all things, I hit the bingo target.... Aoi... Caess... and the man who took them away... a perfect bingo. If we nab all five targets, I'm pretty sure White will be most pleased with us... ...normally I wouldn't think like this, but this is an opportune moment... My orders are to seize Noriko... normally I would let Azula take care of this, but I have been dying for a good fight..."

The white haired man laughs. "As expected of my villainous side kick... now then, villain, it's time for you to hand over our lovely ice princess... ...the hero has come to reclaim her at last!" He smirks at Kalin.

The masked man looks over at the white haired man in aggravation. "Seriously you damn brat Kagerou?! How many times do I need to ram it into your smug head that YOU'RE assigned to ME?!" He looks over at Kalin and Aoi and Caess.

"Don't you dare run away. You're going to stand and fight me!" He draws his sword, and the wind picks up.

As Aoi, Caess, and Kalin tense up, Kalin thinks for a moment he can hear a rapid set of footsteps rapidly approaching the encounter.

"Aoi...mind giving us some cover?" Kalin said, still crouched, but his hands tensed, with one covered in red runes.

Just as Aoi creates a wall of ice using Ice Slayer, two blue figures speed over their heads, and begin firing blasts of ice at the two strangers, who leap back. When the cloud of snow and ice clears, Aoi gasps.

"Brother! Sister!" She cries out with joy.

The woman of the two newcomers, made of pure ice looks back. "Oh, so it was you, Aoi, Mother. I'm glad to see you're well. Hold still for a moment. She appears beside them, a sphere of blue light enveloping them.

"I'll take you guys back to our hideaway while he deals with them," She says, indicating her brother facing off against the two strangers. "Stay here and wait, he's going to buy time."

"Well, then. Guess I'll be joining him, then." Kalin said, drawing Muramasa. For a moment, he felt an intense pain in his head, but it quickly subsided.

The woman looks at him irritably. "Stay still. I was talking to you as well. My brother can handle it. Don't make me freeze you there."

The brother creates a storm of ice blades, and begins bombarding the two enemies, who both manage to evade rather well, though they can't get close yet, finally the masked man swipes his sword and blows the blades away, but the brother already is creating large ice boulders and rains them on the two again, causing them to retreat a bit.

"Not bad, punk!" The masked man growls.

"Ugh, fine." Kalin said, sheathing his blade. "So, what now?"

"Wait just a little bit longer." Various markings appear on the ice being's body.

The brother engages in a fist fight, and the two duel for a while, while the white haired man just watches the fight and the group behind the ice with a faint smile.

"Sorry. Taking too long..." Kalin said, before pointing his hand towards the air, and calling down a small volley of light arrows, all of them aimed at their opposition.

"I must admit it to you, you do put on a fancy light show, Mr. Villain. But I'm afraid.... it is a farce." He holds up his hand to the sky with a smirk, and the light vaporizes as they hit an invisible barrier.

"Next?" He says with a smug expression.

The brother kicks the masked man in the face. "Is it ready yet?!" He barks.

"Just another moment!" The sister replies, now glowing brilliantly.

"Skip the moment, please!"

The masked man goes to stab the brother, when a brilliant light envelops the group, and they appear in a icy cave somewhere elsewhere.

"Alright, we should be safe here," The sister says panting a little.

"You need to be quicker about our escapes." The brother says quietly.

The sister sighs, then looks at Kalin. "Who might you be, by chance? Was it you who brought Aoi and mother here?"

"Yeah, that was me. My name's Kalin. Nice to meet you both, finally." he says, waving at the two.

The sister nods. "It is... nice to meet you too. ...Who were those people anyway...." She seems more nervous and scared now that the battle had died down. She looks up at Kalin. "My apologies, my name is Kiyōna. He is Zetsubō." She says, indicating her brother. "He doesn't talk much."

She looks over at Aoi and gives her a happy hug, crying. "It's so good to see you after all this time...! My word how you've grown... ...you're so precious, you know that?" She says softly.

The family gets close together and embraces one another, all of them tearing up. Even though Aoi is taller than most girls, she is still much smaller than her sister brother, and nothing compared to their mother.

Zetsubō looks over at Kalin. "....Thank you for this blessing, Kalin."

"It was nothing." Kalin said, shrugging. "It feels good, helping bring a family together."

Caess closes her eyes, a quiet tear of joy rolling down her face. "Children... my dear friend Kalin here has accompanied me here in the order of bringing you with me home... ...to my first home, Twin Valleys."

The two frozen beings look stunned. "R-really?" They collectively stutter.

"Yes, really. It has been far too long since I saw my people. It is time I returned home. I'd like you to come with me."

Kiyōna looks at Aoi. "Will Aoi be coming with us?"

Caess smiles. "For a while, yes. Will she stay? I suspect that she will want to remain with Kalin. You could say they are very fond, very close to each other's hearts. She will likely return with him after a while. But she will be accompany us."

"Yeah, she'll probably-wait, what? " Kalin said, a slight blush crossing his face.

"Did I stutter?" She asks with a teasing look on her face, a slight smile. "You can stop pretending like there's nothing going on between you two Kalin. I know my own daughter well, Kalin, despite how long we've not had close communication. A girl like Aoi cares deeply about the things they care about, and will always want to keep them close. You need not be embarrassed by it."

Aoi is still hugging her brother and sister, who have slightly amused expressions, but she herself shows no sign of denying it, even though a blush comes over her face.

"Well...okay, I'll admit we're close. I didn't actually expect her to stay, though. It...makes me happy to know she wants stay with me a bit longer." he responded, smiling as he said it.

Aoi looks at him and smiles. "Did you think I would say those things and just leave you behind? They're my family and I love them, but I want to be with you, because you make me happy."

"You make me happy, too..." Kalin said, trailing off as he noticed the numerous  stares he is recieving.

Aoi pointedly ignores the stares and dives at Kalin and hugs him, causing him to topple over, she laughs the whole way down.

Kiyōna smiles. "Looks like Aoi's learned how to be a bit more... 'aggressive'." She says, laughing.

"That part isn't directly my fault. Well, okay it's partially my fault. Although there was that time with the shower..." Kalin said, partially speaking to himself.

Aoi smirks. "I wonder..." She says, stealing a kiss before straightening up and walking over to Caess. "If you're ready, we can go anytime, Kiyōna, Zetsubō."

They nod. "We'll be glad to leave any time you are."

Kalin touched his lips, and chuckled softly before sitting up. "Alright then. On the road again, ladies and gentleman!" he said, opening a gate behind himself.