*Yuko*

Yuko raised her head and wiped the blood that was trickling down the sides of her mouth. She grunted as Shiomi Fujiwara came in for another strike. As fast as she could, Yuko raised her arms over her head to shield from the incoming razor wind.

A stinging sensation ran up Yuko's arms as the wind sliced the sleeves of her white blouse and the skin beneath it. Blood splattered across the white cloth and continued to pool around her. Even with her rapid regeneration, the razor wind proved too much.

"Yuko!" a voice echoed in Yuko's head. It was Master's.

Yuko glanced around but didn't see him anywhere. "Master?"

Yuko gasped as a punch landed on her stomach. When had Shiomi moved toward Yuko? She was several feet away until now, Yuko was sure of it.

"Pay attention!" Shiomi growled.

Yuko clumped to the floor, hugging her stomach, and coughed out more clumps of blood mixed in with vile.

Shiomi scrunched up her nose. "Tsk, you claim to be a 'pure-blooded' Kyuu Hyakuian, yet you are weaker than the mutts I've met," the weasel eye girl said, glaring at me. "What a disgrace. I was looking forward to a proper challenge."

"Yuko!" Master's voice echoed once more.

Master Tetsu... Yuko knows she promised to take it easy, but she needs to get stronger quickly. For Tetsu's sake, so that he can clear his name and be happy again. To return to that kind and gentle young man Yuko met long ago.

Yuko grunted as she pushed herself up once more. "Y-Yuko's not done yet," she said, curling her blood covered hands into fists.

Shiomi shook her head in disbelief. "You aren't giving up? Honestly, you must have a death wish." She turned her back to Yuko and walked away.

"No! Don't go!" Yuko yelled, stumbling forward. "Yu-Yuko can still fight!" She ran up to Shiomi, but a gust of wind blew her away.

Yuko grunted as her back stuck the gym floor. Her entire body ached. She gasped as the lights overhead turned hazy. Yu closed her eyes and pressed her hands against the ground. "Pl-please don't... go," she said, reaching a hand toward the weasel-eyed girl as she opened a blue door.

Shiomi let out a disgruntled sigh and closed the door behind her.

"C-come... back..."

"Sis, stop!" Yuko's big sister yelled from the balcony.

Nori jumped down from the balcony and landed on all fours. He raised himself off the floor and ran over. Yuko's best friend put his hands on her shoulders and looked at her in the eyes. "Yuko, listen to your big sis, Yu can't continue like this. Nori doesn't want Yu to die."

"Thanks, Nori," Yuko's sister said, staring at us from afar. Her eyes were wet.

Yuko pressed her head against Nori's chest. "Yu...Yuko's sorry." Hot tears rolled down her face. "She's... still too weak."

Nori hugged her tightly. "Yu isn't weak! Yu is awesome," he said as he tried his best to close Yuko's wounds.

"That truly was pathetic," Mr. Obi said he looked down at us. He stood on the opposite side from Yuko's big sister. He gave Yuko a vibe similar to that of Master's father. No, his aura was crueler than even Yuko's old master.

"Guys, lady Saya has awakened!" Koukyuu yelled as she slammed the door opened.

Nori smiled at me. "Let's go see her!"

The white-haired princess raised a brow at Yuko. She looked her up and down and gasped at the sight of the scars. She shot Mr. Obi an angry look. "You allowed Fujiwara to take it this far?" the princess of Kasai no Ki snapped.

The man shrugged. "It wasn't our fault. It was the girl's. She kept pushing herself, turning herself in a virtual punching bag. Ask her friend."

Nori lowered his eyes. "Nori and Yu's big sis tried to tell Yuko to stop."

Koukyuu sighed. "I see, I'll eliminate all of those wounds at the nurse's office. We are heading there anyway." She glanced over at Yuko's big sis. "Aren't you coming?"

"I'll catch up soon, I have some business to take care of," Yuko's sister said. Her eyes were focused on the door the weasel-eyed girl had gone through.

"Sis... please don't get into a fight... It was Yuko's fault."

She smiled. "You're a kind girl, Yu, but sometimes being too kind can be a fatal flaw. However, you have nothing to worry about. I simply wish to speak to her."

"O-okay," Yuko said, keeping her fluffy ears down.

***

Koukyuu escorted Nori and Yuko into an otherwise empty hall. Nine Petal Academy's next academic year had yet to officially begin.

The three came to a stop as they spotted several figures dressed in gorgeous robes. Two of those five were adults, one male, the other female. The male adult turned over while the lady entered with her three children.

Koukyuu gasped. "What are you doing here?" she asked, worry in her voice.

The man pushed his long silky black hair back and crossed his arms. "We warped here as soon as we heard an old friend was unwell," he said. "We would've made it here earlier if not for that annoying security which wouldn't allow us to pass."

"Who are they?" Yuko asked, tilting her head.

"This is Liang Mu, the Xianian emperor consort. That woman you just saw enter was the High Priestess of Xian, she's also known by the title of 'Empress of Xian'."

Liang Mu shifted his sky-blue eyes toward Nori and Yuko.

Xian? That's where mean mister got the wood that Master's shield is made from.

"Aren't you two the ones who were accompanying those Zionian knights during the Mahoulympics?" the man asked.

Nori nodded. "Yeah." He glanced at Yuko. "Excuse us, but Nori's friend here needs help."

"Nori? Who is he?" he asked, glancing around. "Maybe I can help him."

Koukyuu snickered. "He's Nori. This girl here is Yuko. The two speak of themselves in the third person."

Liang chuckled as he took a step forward. He gasped and turned around to look at Nori. "This aura... child, why do you possess this aura?"

"Hmm?" Nori said, giving him a confused look.

The man shook his head and looked down. A smile played on his lips. "To think that you would've been reborn into the rival clan and a slave from the war they helped cause... truly remarkable. Destiny is funny."

Nori gasped. "Reborn?"

Liang nodded. "Yes. Yet that's not all. This meeting was destined. For me to cross paths with you here, young Nori. I hope that you'll grow up to be as powerful as you once were, but preferably walk a path with less bloodshed."

"As he once was?" Koukyuu asked, glancing at Nori. "This child is a pacifist. He mostly heals."

Nori stared at Yuko's wounds. "Yet, Nori's power isn't strong enough to help his friends. Serra got hurt, as did Xime."

Liang walked over to Nori and placed a hand on Yuko's forehead. A warm sensation filled her body. The lingering markings Shiomi had made rapidly diminished. "There, she's all better now."

Nori glanced up at the man and smiled. "Thank you, so much. If only, if only I were as strong as you."

Liang smiled and petted Nori. "You really do seem to be a pacifist. Tell you what, while I'm here, how about I train you?"

Nori's eyes widened. "Really?" he asked, on the brink of jumping with joy, if not for the fact that he was carrying Yuko.

He glanced at the wooden staff strapped to Nori's back. "Yes. I am married to a priestess after all. I know a few things about divine magic. That's what you seek, right? To be a priest or something along those lines?"

Nori nodded as his eyes shimmered. "Yeah!"

Yuko snickered as she set a foot down on the floor. "Nori will get strong! Yuko will too! She has to, for Master."

Nori smiled back. "Yeah. For Mistress Xime needs me too!"

"Liang." All turned to look at the blue haired man standing by the doorway. He put an arm around Liang. "I was wondering what took you so long to check in on us. Seems like you got caught up talking to these kids."

"It has been awhile, Tatsu," Liang said, smiling. "I noticed that these children here have special souls."

The Dragon Emperor glanced at Nori and Yuko. "Special souls?"

Liang tilted his head. "Yes. Ancient souls. They must've been reborn into this era for this specific purpose, to aid us in the battle against Abyssion."

"Ancient souls?" Yuko asked, tilting her head at them. First doppelgangers and now old souls... Just who was Yuko in the past?

"They're souls from great warriors around Seven-thousand years ago and earlier," Liang explained.

"If only we had the reborn angels to aid us," a woman called out. Standing behind Tatsu was Lady Saya, accompanied by the cloaked lady. "Sadly, it appears that their light faded a few years ago. But hearing that these two are Ancient Souls is encouraging."

Nori glanced down at the floor. "Is Nori really an 'Ancient Soul'?"

"I knew that you two were special when I first laid eyes on you," a familiar voice called out. Everyone turned their attention toward the man in the red cloak coming from the direction Yuko was facing.

"Nice of you to come this far to check up on your liege," Saya said, giving him a skeptical look. "Or at least, I would like to think that's why you're here, but I doubt you were told of my condition, Mr. Itou."

The Prime Minister of Xeleria snickered. "True. I have no idea what might've befallen you for you to be in this..." He scrunched his nose. "School of sorts. I came here because I wish to retrieve that which was taken from me."

"Taken from you?" Saya asked, raising an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

The man took a step forward and smiled at Nori. "Him of course. I was to be his guardian"

"You're no guardian!" Yuko snapped, growling at him.

He smiled. "Oh?"

"I have a bad feeling," Liang said, pulling Nori behind him. "You aren't to be trusted."

Mr. Itou snickered. "Who might you be?"

"He's our friend," Lady Saya said. "Now, I wish to know what you mean by 'guardian'? Tetsuya told me about how Yuko and Nori were enslaved by Tekeshi."

The prime minister of Kuroriku nodded. "Ah, so it seems you know the truth. Yes, that man did such a dark thing. It was foolish of our king and yourself to entrust him with the creation of the weapons." He shrugged. "If we had more time then I would have suggested we begin anew."

Liang's wife whispered something into Saya's ears.

"Yes. I sense it too. Sadly, we need this man's help," Saya said, lowering her eyes.

Mr. Itou smiled triumphantly.

Saya raised her head and gave her subject a menacing glance. "But the children will stay with us! We won't allow you to take them away to be used as your puppets!"

The man grinned. "Fine, besides, they're not the reason for why I'm here. Now, where can I find Serrano?" he asked with an impish look in his eyes.

Yuko gasped. Serra? Glancing over at Nori, she quickly said. "Nori, help Yuko g-"

Nori chuckled. "Nori knows what you got in mind. No worries, Nori and Yuko will keep mister safe!" Nori said in a low voice.

Yuko smiled. "Thanks, Nori."

Nori walked over to Koukyuu and whispered something into her ear.

The princess of Kasai no Ki nodded. "Alright."

Yuko kept an eye on Mr. Itou as he slowly walked away. "I wouldn't mind if you showed me the way, kids."

Yuko gulped. Had he caught on? How to defend Master's cousin without giving away his location, think Yuko!

**Solar Note: Hope that you enjoyed the chapter ^^. A rather short one, I know. So, any other thoughts? Predictions?**