*Ximena*

[Three Days Later]

Several days had passed since Serrano and I found Nori fleeing for his life. The child quickly adjusted to life here at the church. He really did have the makings of a priest. He was able to recite verses even I had trouble remembering.

Though it had been days since I last contacted Serrano.

Serrano, I hope that he managed to fix his relationship with the princess... Even if it means he'll be lost to me forever... Or maybe if he can't then I'll have a chance to..

I glanced up at the bright blue sky and shook my head.

I must let him go if he desires it. If I force my feelings unto him, I'll end up like Renata; tying down and loving someone who pines for another.

I slapped myself with my free hand. I couldn't allow envy to gain a foothold in my heart.

I ran down the dark alleys, careful to avoid the glass littering the floor. On the way, Several people glanced over at me and bowed. They weren't like the nobles at all. Unlike the higher ups, they lacked the resentment. Though that was likely because they saw me for who I was rather than the descent of an ancient and somewhat enduring enemy.

"Is something bothering you, lady Ximena?" A little girl yelled back.

I simply smiled. I preferred not to lie, especially toward a little one like her. Like my father said, we needed to set an example to our congregation.

I slowed down and undid my smile. I leaned against a wall and closed my eyes.

Why after all these days, were these thoughts still lingering? This feeling... Why did I have to fall for an engaged man? Why?

Especially one who seems to like his fiancée. Is this how Renata felt? This remorse? Perhaps it's a good thing that I barely know this Setsuko, lest I develop a hatred toward her like my ancestor did toward hers.

I glanced at the bag I was carrying in my left hand.

I better hurry up or Nori will worry about me. He's might even be all alone as dad said they might run an errand.

I glanced up and saw a worn out eight sided star-cross. I had already arrived at the church.

I should make a confession when my father returns.

***

"I'm back!" I yelled, entering the dining room of the small wooden house next to the church.

"Welcome back!" a red-haired teen yelled, hugging me. He flashed me a smile and took the shopping bag from my hands. He rapidly placed every single item away.

I snickered, watching the cat boy rush around, happily putting stuff away. Nori had grown a lot over these past few days. He now stood at a height of an average sixteen year old Kyuu-Hyakuian— 5'2. Though his mannerisms still those of a young child.

I'm lucky to have Nori here...

"Thanks," I said, grinning.

"No prob," he said, placing the frozen tuna away in the freezer. "Nori's always happy to help master out."

I sighed. "Don't call me 'master'. I keep telling you to call me Ximena."

Nori looked at me with those big crimson eyes of his. "But..."

I wagged my finger at him. "No buts." I glanced around the kitchen. "Do you know where my parents and siblings went?"

"They went out shopping for some more stuff to renovate the church," he said. "Nori wanted to go with them, but not without Mas...ter Ximena."

Those parents of mine. They were very kind people, but certainly they had to know that fixing a thing here and there wouldn't solve the issue of the crumbling church.

"I see. So I guess that you don't have priestly lessons today?" I asked.

He glanced down at his white shirt and jeans. They used to my dad who wore them when he was his age. Usually the kid wore his white priestly robes and carried his wooden scepter around.

"No..." he said, his cat ears flopping.

I extended a hand out to him. "Then let's go out and have a look around town. You've grown a lot, so I don't think that the castle guards will recognize you."

He gave me a toothy grin. "True! Nori would love to go with Master Ximena."

"Just..." I sighed.

At least he's saying my name, which is an improvement, even with the master in front of it...

I gave him a toothy grin of my own. "Let's go!"

He curled his fingers around my right hand and continued to grin. "Yay! Nori gets to go out with Master Ximena!"

***

Nori and I walked outside of the home. A cool gust blew down from the mountains north of the city but the morning-late-spring-sun's rays warmed up my body.

I realized upon feeling the sun that Serrano's birthday was a week from today. I contemplated paying him a visit, but didn't wish to cause him any problems with Setsuko either.

I slid my wings over the slits of my denim jacket and grabbed a tight hold of Nori. "Off we go!" I flew him over the grey and decrepit slums of the 'great' capital until we arrived in the clean and pristine shopping district in the central part of town. People gave us odd looks. In part because of we wore no shoes. But also because of my wings.

It wasn't strange to me, though. Unlike those in the slums, the rest of the city's residents weren't very fond of us Kasai no Ki clan members. It was owed to our clans' long history of war. Our clan founders, the archangels, were often signaled as the start of said conflict.

At best our relationship involved ignoring the other, like now. At worst, war. Wars of attrition for that matter.

Surprisingly my clan had managed to survive all those wars despite being militarily weaker than the Kuroriku. And not to mention that we tended to be more laid back, even when it came to such things.

"Where do you with to go?" I asked him. He glanced around and pointed toward a stand selling roasted silver-striped fish. "Hello. I would like two, please."

"Certainly," the woman said as she took two well-roasted fish out from the fire. "That'll be three silver coins."

I took them out of my pocket and handed them to her. Three silver was rather expensive, but compared to some of the other stuff for sale, it was rather cheap. Plus silver-striped fish was a delicacy from the frosted north.

We both walked toward a nearby park at the western-central shopping district and sat down to eat.

It was awfully close to the castle, but Nori didn't seem afraid. Which was a good thing. I had avoided taking him out beyond the slums in fear that he might have a panic attack. Serrano had told me that the guards were fired and detained for keeping a slave within castle grounds. Apparently the king had nothing to do with it...

I asked him if he knew who did, but he didn't tell me.

I sighed and turned to the kid.

Nori happily bit down on his fish. "Sooo goooodd!"

I patted his head which was covered by a baseball cap— meant to hide his cat ears. Though I wish he didn't have it. I loved petting his head. He had softer hair than any blanket I had ever touched.

Quickly, I devoured my own roasted fish. Yeah, including the bones.

Suddenly I saw two soldiers limp by. One man, and the other a woman.

I got up and saw that they were both badly injured. I would've been shocked that no one helped them, if I didn't know how numb the people here could be.

"Are you two alright?" I asked, walking up to them. "You both look like you could use some rest."

"We need to get a message..." the female soldier answered as she helped support the male.

"What kind of message? Maybe I can send it for you," I said. I glanced at Nori who had already made his way over here. He closed his eyes and began to heal the two at once.

"It's for Lady Setsuko," the man said as his feet gave in. I caught him before he could fall.

"The princess?" I asked, frowning. Had something happened?

"Yes... It's about Sir Serrano..." the woman said, coughing between words.

"Serrano?" I said. If not for her injuries, I would've shakened her. "What about him? Did something happen to him?"

She didn't answer, rather she collapsed to the floor. Thankfully she still showed signs of life.

"Let's carry her back to the palace," I said.

Nori leaped, shocked. "T-the palace?"

"Yeah. Sorry for dragging you back there. But it seems that we have to get them a message" I glanced at the guy who seemed like he was ready to go unconscious at any moment. "Now. Before we go. Tell me, what happened to Serrano?"

"Sir Serrano... he and the others..."

*Tetsuya*

[Imperial Palace- Infirmary]

When I awoke I was in the same room Setsuko had attended me in days prior. Yuko and Kohri were also in the room, sleeping on comfy red chairs.

"Ah, you're awake now," Setsuko whispered as she entered the room. She put down a bowl filled with herbs on the nightstand. "I was about to make some more medicine. How are you feeling?"

"I'm...alive?" I asked, feeling my forehead.

She punched me lightly in the arm. "Of course you are. Serrano might dislike you, but he wouldn't go that far. He did injure you pretty badly. It's been three days now."

I sat up. "Huh? Three days?" Damn, that jerk of her fiancé knocked me out that hard?

She grabbed some of the herbs that she had brought along with a bowl. She averted looking at me in the eye. "Yes. It's partially my fault."

"How? You weren't the one who stabbed me with a rank three attack!"

She twirled her wavy hair. "It was the essence crystals that did it. I thought that applying them to your body would heal you quicker, but putting all of them into the same medicine caused you to fall into a coma."

I sat up and stared at her in awe. "You used your essence crystals on me? Why? You two won, didn't you?"

She nodded. "We did, but I thought you needed them more. Out of the five of us you're the weakest or second weakest. Hideo being you only competition for that title. Giving you the ten essence crystals has boosted your strength a little, hopefully it'll prove fruitful. Though they appear to have also been absorbed by your shield."

I smiled. "You know...at first I thought you were a little on the rough side, but you're kind of a red rose."

She blushed. "What?"

I couldn't help but feel a little red too. "Nothing, ignore what I said," I blurted out. "So, exactly by how much did I grow?"

"I'm not sure but I would say your body's natural defense as well as that of your shield have gone up. In terms of offensive growth, I didn't detect any. Meanwhile, the amount of mana around your body also went up too. That helps when it comes to those attacks which consume a lot of energy.

"Your shield's magical abilities also seem to have grown more potent as the material has more prana in it. If you were ever to go to Xeleria, I would advise you to find a Xianian as a teacher since its abilities are similar to those they are skilled in. "

Xeleria... Perhaps going there one day will help me strengthen not only myself, but Yuko too.

"Hey, are you listening to these stats or not?" Setsuko asked, narrowing her eyes at me.

I laughed louder than I wished I had as soon as I heard her utter 'stats' like that.

She narrowed her eyes. "What's so funny?"

I took a deep breath to control myself. "Rosa wasn't kidding, you really are a gamer," I said, grinning.

She covered her face with her bowl. "Please don't share it, it's embarrassing."

"Why?"

She grumbled. "Do you want to learn your 'stats', or not?"

I gasped. "There's more?"

"Yeah, it involves another of your shield's abilities."

"What is it?" I asked, tilting my head.

"It's responsible for your shield growing stronger. When I was making the medicine your shield absorbed the herbs and crystals. The result was a strong elixir. It's a pretty handy ability, I would even say 'broken', if you ask me. The ability strengthens both your body and the shield with half of the amount of essence crystals that it would otherwise require."

"Yes!" I yelled. I slumped down a little. My face became red as I noticed her trying not to laugh. "I mean, before I know it I'll be able to defeat him."

"You mean Serrano?"

"Well there's him, but I was also thinking of Eiichi and Hyo," I responded. "More so Eiichi. Back in the abyssmal castle, I said that we would have a rematch when we returned. However, things didn't turn out that way."

Plus, if I become stronger than him then it'll be easier to get my revenge if he turns out to be the one who tried to rape Rosa and framed me for it.

She grinned. "I hope you do, that guy annoys me."

" I don't know why Serrano has him as a friend," I said. "Though I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. Serrano can be a bit elitist at times." Even though I had wanted to pretend he wasn't... "Excuse me for asking, but why haven't either of you broken up your engagement?"

She put down her bowl of crushed herbs on the stand. "Anyways, back to your shield. You have a second ability, which happens to allow you to infuse your shield with your darkness, or any other element you may be able to control. It seems to have another effect, but I don't know what that secondary effect is."

I looked down. I probably shouldn't have asked her such an intimate question.

"Thanks a lot for helping me," I said, trying to push away the odd feeling. "I promise I'll repay you one day."

"No need, I did this for the benefit of our clan. Now excuse me, I should be returning to the front lines." As she turned around there was knocking on the door. "Who could it be? Is Serrano back?"

She opened the door and to my shock Ximena walked in through the door with a red-haired teenage boy wearing a red baseball cap. The boy reminded me of someone, but I wasn't sure who.

Both of them carried soldiers in their arms.

I grabbed the medicine that Setsuko was making and held it out to her.

"Master?" Yuko said, opening her eyes. She rushed over to hug me but I held out a hand to keep her from knocking me down and spilling the medicine. She glanced at the two that Ximena and the kid carried and covered her nose. "Blood..."

Setsuko finished the medicine and took the bowl from me.

"They need treatment, urgently," Ximena said. She then applied it over the girl's back where she had a gaping wound. She chanted something under her breath, a semi-silent prayer most likely. "What happened?"

"The guy managed to tell me some things earlier," Ximena responded. "He managed to get out the words 'Sir Serrano', and 'Abyss'. What's the abyss?'"

My eyes widened. I turned to look at Setsuko. "Did he go to Abyss without you?"

The crowned princess remained silent for some time before nodding. "Yes, he's volunteered to do that so that I could attend to you. He didn't want us to be delayed in our task either. We have to go find the others."

I rubbed my forehead. Serrano wanted Setsuko to heal me? Why? Doesn't he hate me? Or is it the guilt talking that made him do it?

"Lady Setsuko," Hyosetsu called out, walking in. "I heard the news. Your army has fallen into shambles. Those that managed to return say that Serrano faced off against a small group of powerful abyssmals all by himself. He did so to divert their attention while the survivors fled."

Setsuko placed her hands on his shoulders and shook him. "No! Please, Hyo. Tell me that's not true!"

Ximena's eyes widen. She began to breathe heavily. "No... So that's what he meant..."

The ice prince looked down. "It's what the survivors have said. You can talk to them once they've healed."

He removed the princess' hands off of him and took the fallen soldier from Ximena's hands. He sat her in the bed I occupied a moment ago. Then he did the same for the soldier that the red-haired boy carried.

"If you desire, I'll be willing to go with you on a rescue mission," he said, averting his eyes. "There's a chance that your fiancé is still alive."

"Showing concern for others?" Kohri asked. He leaned back on his seat and a smug grin. "That's unlike you. What are you aiming for?"

Hyosetsu chuckled. "You don't have a monopoly on caring for others. Besides, we are considered Knights of the King, we are meant to defend the royal family. You should know that, being a member of the Seven Hills. Plus, even if Serrano is dead, we need to retrieve Aventine. We can't allow it to fall into enemy hands."

Kohri grinned. "True. In that case, I'll be joining you. Tetsu, Yuko, stay here and train or rest. I'll be back in a day or so."

"Wait, I'll go with you," I yelled.

Setsuko looked at me with a hopeful grin. "Your shield will be a great aid. The prophecy does speak of us having to work together to save the world from doom. Hyosetsu, Kohri, find Eiichi and Hideo! Tell them that the future Queen has summoned them, we must save my future King."

The siblings bow before leaving to carry out their duty.

"As for you," she said, looking at Yuko who was talking to the red-haired young man.

"Are you, Nori?" Yuko asked, sniffing him.

The boy laughed. "Yuko finally noticed Nori! Was waiting for Yuko to say something."

Yuko smiled and hugged him. "Yuko's so glad that Nori's okay! Yuko thought that something awful might've happened to Nori!" She looked up at him with tear-filled eyes.

Nori wiped away some of her tears. "Nori's fine now, so don't cry." He teared up and glanced Ximena. "It's all thanks to Master Xime."

Yuko smiled. "Yuko wonders what Xime has been feeding Nori. Nori is super tall now, so Yuko wasn't sure if it was him. But Nori still smells the same."

Nori patted her head and grinned. "Yeah, Nori was pretty surprised too when he woke up big one day without explanation. Master Xime was too." He chuckled. "Nori's just glad to see that Yuko also managed to escape."

"Yuko was actually saved!" she said as she let go of him.

Nori gasped. "Really? Who saved you?" he asked, glancing back at Setsuko and me. "Did they have to fight mean mister?"

I lowered my head. I hadn't saved Yuko out of the goodness of my heart... I did it only as I needed someone to help me fight in the abyss.

"Sorry to cut your little reunion... short," Setsuko said as she walked over to them. "But I need to ask you some things, Yuko. Have you been to the Abyss already?"

Yuko nodded. "Yes...but Yuko doesn't want to return."

Setsuko patted her head. Her brown eyes fell on me. "Why did you choose to use this child? I know that my sister's accusation hasn't made it easy to recruit, but a child...that's kind of low."

"No, Yuko isn't a child. Yuko is sixteen! Yuko...Yuko can fight! Yuko will fight for Master Kuroriku and Lady Kuroriku!"

"That's right!" Nori said. "Yuko is the same age as Nori."

"Though you still talk in the third person like kids do." She stared at Yuko with interest. "But if you're sixteen, in that case..." She took out a blue essence crystal. "I don't think that you're strong enough for this mission as you are now, Yuko, but if you think you are, then take this. Use it on your weapon or body. It's the last one I have left, so pick wisely."

She grabbed some leftover herbs and began to mix the essence crystal with the herbs. "Master, your shield!"

What a smart girl my Yuko was. "Where's my shield?" I asked.

Setsuko reached under the bed and pulled out the box I had gotten four days earlier. "You're rather smart, child," the princess said, grinning.

As soon as Setsuko handed me the shield, the herbs and the crystal were absorbed. The shield radiated a green light for a minute. Once it faded a green veil appeared on the table where the ingredients were.

"It's a different color," Yuko stated.

"Green...this has one fifth of the potency of the medicine that was made out of the ten crystals," Setsuko said. She laughed. "It seems that your shield's first ability leveled up too. This potion will raise the girl's power by two levels."

Yuko grabbed the potion and drank it without warning. She crumpled to the floor and started to convulse.

"Yuko!" Nori screamed. "No. Yuko. Don't leave Nori... Not now! Nori knows that he had been lazing around instead of searching for Yuko, but... Nori cares for Yuko!"

Setsuko walked over and held her in her arms. "No, it's the same as three days ago!"

I held Yuko too. "No, what do we do?"

She shook her head. "Nothing, we might make things worse. Let's wait."

Suddenly Yuko's entire body began to change. It was almost as if she were in a state of metamorphosis. The clothes she wore began to look small on her and her hat was raised up by her growing ears. 

Setsuko stared at the fluffy ears in shock.

"She's...a tanuki!" Setsuko yelled, backing away. "Yuko is a Kyuu Hyakuian? Where did Kuroshi find her? Most of the Kyuu Hyakuians in this world are foxes."

"Well, not all of us are," Ximena said. "This Kuroshi guy... he seems to be the one who enslaved them."

"What?" Setsuko asked, mouth agape.

Kuroshi? So that's the name of the guy who sold her to me. 

Hearing that name brought back memories. Though they were blurry. I remembered meeting him on the same day that I got Agnes.

I turned toward the kid called Nori. I had also met him that same day.

"He's one of them too, isn't he?" I asked.

"Yes," Ximena responded.

I held Yuko tightly as her body burned up. "Princess, please don't tell anyone."

Setsuko nodded and pulled the hat down over Yuko's ears. She let out a sigh of relief. "She appears to be growing stronger. It's said that Kyuu Hyakuian's forms change when they get stronger, but I had never seen anything like this. This girl...you have to be careful with her."

"Why? Because of who she is?" I asked, perhaps in a more offended tone than I should've.

She grimaced. "Yes, but not because of what you're thinking about. You see, Kyuu Hyakuians' natural energy takes the form of prana. It's slightly different than mana, so sometimes they can mix like now. Other times those differences result in the mix becoming lethal. Her body could've burnt up had the mana overpowered the prana."

I hugged Yuko as her body continued to morph.

Yuko stopped convulsing. She opened her eyes. "Master...Lady Setsuko...what happened?" she asked.

"Yuko, don't scare me like that," I said, bringing her head against my chest. "Promise me that you'll stay away from essence crystals from now on."

She nodded, confused.

"Tetsuya, Setsuko!" Kohri yells, poking his head in. "The other knights are ready, are you two prepared?"

Setsuko stood up. "More or less. I just have to run a few quick health exams on Yuko and Tetsuya to make sure they're well enough to join us."

"Can you do the same for me?" Ximena asked. "I... want to save Serrano."

She gave Ximena a strange look, almost as if she were jealous. The princess though nodded anyway. "Alright. So long as you can fight."

I chuckled. "That she can!"

"Nori too! Nori can fight! Nori was trained by soldiers! Nori can also heal," the teen yelled.

The princess chuckled. "If I hadn't just seen Yuko grow all of a sudden in front of me, I would wonder if you were really the Nori I'd met."

"Yeah," I said.

"That said, are you sure that you want to join us? I remember hearing that you don't like to fight," Setsuko said.

Nori nodded. "Yeah, Nori is. Nori wants to go. Nori owes Serrano his life. Nori needs to repay Mister Serrano and Mistress Ximena. Please!"

Setsuko grinned. "Alright. Now, line up! We might not have much time!"

*Character Section* 

(both of the following are official art pieces. Both were drawn by Mitt4mite over at Artists&Clients)

Yuko Akiyama (looking her age)- Sex: Female Age: 16~ Species: Kyuu Hyakuian (a species native to Xeleria) of the 'tanuki' variety.

Nori Rikimaru (looking his age)- Sex: Male Age: 16~ Species: Kyuu-Hyakuian of the 'Nekomata' variety.

**Solar Questions: Thoughts?**