[Meanwhile, in Munill]

After I had woken up from my dream, I returned to training with the others and told them what I had learned from Serrano, Aventine, and Hanketsu. Since then, what felt like days had passed in this realm. It was still hard to believe this was our third day here.

"Think that everything is going well back home?" Hideo asked, glancing at the small village outside of the tower. We had decided to come here for our break.

I put down my box of juice.

"I'm not sure, but I like to think that they are," I said. I reached into the pocket of my jeans and took out my crystal. It had already charged enough for another call.

Hideo gulped. "Lately, I've gotten a bad vibe as if something is going on back home."

"Then you should give your family a call," Hyosetsu said as he walked over to us. He had changed into a blue robe like the kind that Kasai no Ki warriors used to wear in the past. I wondered if he was part Kasai no Ki too. His brother did have red hair, after all.

Hideo took out his stone. "I called Kiara awhile ago. She said that she was gathering ingredients to heal Roa." He sighed. "I don't know why they're worried about them. They're prisoners, not allies."

"Roa is sick?" I asked.

"Worried about him?" Setsuko asked. "Not that I'm surprised. He is your cousin, after all."

"Eh, I don't really consider him as my cousin." Not after that stunt that he attempted. In case you forget, he tried to get me to turn on Serra. Etsuo, on the other hand, I did consider my cousin. "I'm just surprised to hear that he's sick. I mean, are they sure that it isn't a trap?"

"I wondered the same thing," Hideo said. "But Kiara says it's not. Crystals have appeared on his arm. It seems that it's connected to the wounds he sustained from jerknight. They messed up his body."

"Jerknight?" Eiichi asked, confused.

I snickered. It was funny to see him react to the nickname Rosa gave him.

"I mean Naoru, not you," Hideo said.

"Right, that guy."

Setsuko sighed. "Naoru might've gone a little too far. He has always been rather extreme in his approaches. In a way, he's sort of like my three predecessors."

Hyosetsu snickered. "Predecessors? You aren't the ruler of Kuroriku just yet."

"I know, but I'll eventually be." She averted her gaze. "Hopefully not for several more years."

"Do you have a bad feeling about your dad's group too?" Hideo asked.

I didn't care if something terrible happened to Osamu, but I prayed that Rosa and the others were fine. Then again, if something did happen to the king, Rosa would probably be sad. Her father and Setsuko were the only immediate family she had left.

Setsuko laughed. "Though, I'm sure that old man is fine. He's tougher than he looks."

"He looks pretty scary," Hideo mumbled.

The crown princess nodded. "True, he has that scary glare of his." She laughed. "Not that it has dissuaded me much."

Hyosetsu sighed. "Is that really something to be proud of?" He took out a stone and handed it to Hideo. "Anyway, use this to contact your family."

"You aren't going to need it?" Hideo asked.

"I already have a rough idea of how Kohri is doing based on Setsuko and Tetsuya's contact with those in Xeleria. As for my mom, I'm certain she's fine. You all saw how strong her Second Heaven transformation was."

Hideo rubbed his shoulders. "Yeah. It was chilling, literally."

"Oh good, you're all here," a voice called out. We turned right and saw Halim make his way toward us, accompanied by his son-in-law and his grandson.

"Is something the matter?" Setsuko asked.

"Not that I'm aware of," Halim said, crossing his arms over his chest. He smiled. "The reason I wanted to see you all was to test how much you've grown. Today is the last day you'll be after all."

"Day here or a day back home?" Hideo asked, tilting his head.

"Both."

"So, it's finally time for us to return," I said, smiling.

"Almost. You got two things left to do before you can go back."

"What are they?" Hyosetsu asked, raising an eyebrow at the archangel.

"The first involves you and Tetsuya."

"Me?" I asked.

Our ancestor nodded. "Yeah. I heard that you two never finished your little tournament. So now's a good time to do so."

"What about the rest of us?" Setsuko asked.

"You three will be going up against me," Kaliq said.

Hideo grinned. "I've gotten a lot faster compared to when we first met! I'm sure that I'll be able to land a hit on you."

"I look forward to seeing you do so, but just because you hit me, it doesn't mean that I'll go down."

"Yeah, Daddy is super strong!" Kassim said, smiling widely.

Kaliq snickered. "I wouldn't say that. My strength doesn't lie in offense."

"Then, are you a defensive powerhouse?" I asked, smiling. If so, I might be able to learn a thing or two from watching the three of them go against him.

"You could say that, but it's not the same as yours."

A different kind of defense? Then got to see this.

"Anyway, you can pick which to do first," Halim said.

"I think that Hyo and I should finish the tournament. We've held off its conclusion for four days or so now," I said, swinging my hands behind my head.

Hyosetsu smirked. "I see that you're eager to test your skills. So am I." He turned and locked eyes with me. "Let's see which of us is stronger, Tetsuya."

I grinned. "Glad that you agree."

Hideo grumbled. "I wanted to test mine out first."

"Hey, aren't you going to call home?" Eiichi asked.

"Oh, yeah! Thanks for reminding me! Show me my aunt Anis!" He raised the stone that Hyosetsu had lent him.

My mom? Why her? Wasn't he going to contact his parents or siblings?

"Hideo?" Mom asked.

"Hide?" Hideo's mom said, walking over to my mom.

"Hey. Kiara told me that you were at the peasant's place."

Mom and I narrowed our eyes at him.

"Uh, I mean Tetsu," he said, trying his best to smile.

"Is that Hide?" a black-haired girl with bright blue eyes asked. It was Amun. I remembered her from when we had stayed over at Hideo's place the first time.

"Big brother!" a voice called out. A pink-haired girl with a cat-ear hairband jumped up from behind the sofa. It was Layla.

"Brother?" Nate asked as he emerged from behind the sofa. He was wearing Taku's old karate uniform.

"Amun, Layla, Nate! How are you doing?" Hideo asked, smiling at his younger siblings.

Nate grinned. "I've been doing well! Nico's been teaching me how to fight!"

"Nico has?" Hideo asked.

"Hey," Nicolas said, waving at us. "Nice to see you, Tetsu!"

I waved back. "Likewise."

"I'm so glad that you're doing well," Mom said, smiling.

I lowered my eyes a little. "As am I!" I said, trying my best to smile. Should I tell her about Dad? Would she even care? She was pretty mad at him last time they talked.

"Uh, sorry to interrupt, but I was the one who called," Hideo said, glaring at me.

Mom huffed. "Alright, fine. I'll let you talk."

I laughed nervously. Mom is so going to give Hideo a piece of her mind later.

"Hide, you shouldn't be so rude," Aunt Rene said, sighing. "Anyway, why are you calling? Is everything alright where you are?"

"I wanted to know how you were. I've been having a bad feeling."

My aunt lowered her eyes. "You too, huh?"

"Kiara and the others are fine. I talked to them earlier. They're about to arrive in Kaguya."

"That's good." Her eyes widened. "Could Camila be the one who is in trouble..."

Hide shivered. "Camila's not with you?"

"No. She stayed back home. You know how much she dislikes traveling."

"Mom, can you try to get in contact with her?"

"I'll try it right now," she said, bringing out a phone. Her face turned pale. "It says that her phone has been disconnected."

"No," Hideo said, stepping back. "Mom, send someone over to our place! Something might've happened to Cami!"

"I'll go!" Nico said as he ran outside.

"I will too!" Alex yelled, running after him.

"Wait, Alex! You should stay! It might be too dangerous!" Aunt Rene yelled.

Alex stopped. "B-but Cami might be in trouble."

Nate slumped on the couch. "Cami..."

"What's wrong with Cami?" a sleepy voice called out. It was Dossie.

"We can't get in contact with her," Amun said.

"So many things keep popping up. First, it was that demon, and now this..." Mom muttered.

"Demon?" I asked.

"Yeah, Nico encountered a demon. He said that it was looking for Zangetsu."

I clenched my rosary. Why would a demon want an angel tool, especially one that can only be used by one of the Seven Archangels?

Setsuko clenched her necklace. "What are the demons planning?" she asked, turning to look at Eiichi.

"Huh? Why are you looking at me?"

"Well, you have had contact with one of the Seven Archdemons."

"You think that she would tell me that kind of stuff?"

Setsuko put a hand on her hip. "Well, not really. Demons only tell people enough to manipulate them."

"If the demon told Nico that, then you think it wishes to lure him into a trap?" I asked.

"It doesn't seem that he fell for it. He didn't give away our location. Not that he knows."

"True."

"Hmm, either way, I'll need to have someone look after it," Halim said, turning around. "The demons could be plotting to attack while we're distracted by Abyssia. As for why they would want Zangetsu..." He shook his head.

"Have an idea?" I asked.

"Yes, but considering that there's no incarnation of Hanketsu around, the plan of the demons won't work."

"Actually, there is one," Setsuko said.

I lowered my eyes. "Yeah."

"What do you mean?" Halim asked, turning around. "Has Hanketsu reincarnated again without us angels learning about it?"

"Sort of. His previous reincarnation has been revived," Setsuko responded.

The archangel's eyes widened. "How? By who?"

"By my grandfather," I said.

Halim stepped back. "Reginald? So, that man has the power of necromancy. This isn't good. If the demons get a hold of Conrad and your Zangetsu then they would be difficult to stop."

"Conrad is allied with the abysmals. The demons wouldn't be so stupid as to fight both them and us," Setsuko said. "Though their pride might lead them to commit that error."

Halim snickered. "Now I am hoping that they do and that it backfires epically on them. Anyway, we better hurry up. Things back in Zionia clearly aren't great."

"I hope that Camila is fine," Hideo said, clenching his hands into fists.

"My brother is with her," Eiichi said, patting his shoulder. "I'm sure that he'll keep her safe."

I narrowed my eyes at the perverted knight. He had changed a lot during these past few days. Yet, I couldn't bring myself to forgive him. If his change of heart is honest, then perhaps I should rethink my revenge. Hate will lead me nowhere. He can pay for his mistakes in jail rather than in death.

**Solar Note: Hope that you enjoyed the chapter ^_^. Thoughts? Theories?**