"We're almost done, just a little bit longer." Haruko said.

Not too long after we found Ken the girls led us to a small lab in Ayako's estate. Ayako took Thomas in the back room and had us watch some Japanese Television while we waited, they even had the courtesy to put on english subtitles. Japanese TV is fun, no complaints, but the commercials are really weird.

There was one with a bunch of chubby guys in black jumpsuits dancing with ramen noodles, which was followed by another commercial where this dog got abducted by aliens, and don't even get me started on the one with Little Red Riding Hood. She was just walking in the forest when suddenly a bunch of woodland creatures started dancing with her and grew boobs, then there was the racoon with his huge-.

Nope, not gonna talk about it.

We'd been waiting about an hour for Ayako to analyze Thomas' biology. She told us that even though things could change with his age, a general report on his body would be beneficial. Hopefully, if we understand him more, we can learn to deal better.

*SMAASH!*

Narong and Choa slowly stood, furrowing their brows with concern as Kelly lurched up and raced towards to door.

We all entered the spacey, modern room to find Thomas winding his arm back and thrusting it through a thick barrier of some sort, obliterating it completely and sending icy shock up my spine.

"Woah," Narong flinched. "Choa, did you see that?"

"Yes," Choa replied, annoyed by Narong and somewhat shocked by the event that he'd just witnessed.

"Okay, you can take a rest." Ayako said, taking off a pair of goggles and scribbling across a clipboard.

Kelly ran towards her. "What's going on in here?"

"Testing force output and bone density." She said, looking up. "He's a lot stronger that I initially expected someone his age to be... Exactly how old was he? Fifteen?"

"Twelve and a half." Kelly corrected.

Ayako's face scrunched in confusion, "But... He's so manly..."

"I know right?" Kelly snickered. "If he were back in boarding school, he'd probably be a baby daddy by now..."

"Thomas isn't like that..." I mumbled. "He'd get all sentimental about it."

"I know, I know..."

"Ahem," Haruko said, handing some papers to Ayako. "The results are back."

Ayako smiled, "Good. Now let's see..."

After a few moments of scanning she read the stats out loud. "Bone composition: collagen, calcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, high carbon steel. Testosterone production: very high."

She skimmed a little. "Wow,"

"What?" Kelly said.

"His body produces extremely high levels of Creatine, Beta-Alanine, and Norepinephrine."

Kelly frowned. "What's that?"

"These are all naturally occurring substances that greatly boost muscle performance, growth, cell production, stamina, and adrenaline.

I've seen biological statistics on typical soldiers produced by The Nexus, but this is amazing. There's no question as to why Thomas behaves the way you described, this power as it stands is equivalent to the strength of several men combined." Ayako dabbed the sides of her face with a small towelette. "I can't imagine how he will change in the coming years..."

Choa's eyes widened. "His strength will continue to increase?"

"Yes," she said.

"Cheezus," Kelly started grinning at him. She'd been really proud of him for being strong before, I could only imagine her joy now. "I can't believe you used to be such a crybaby. You're a genetically engineered ass kicking machine!"

Kelly looked towards the two geniuses, her face literally shimmering with excitement.

Where in the world did those sparkles come from?!

"What else can he do?"

"We did do a few brain scans..." Haruko said, hesitating a moment. "Wanna tell her?"

Ayako's eyes widened. "Hm?"

"Did you wanna explain?"

Ayako looked and her, us and back again, "Oh, you can go."

"Just wanted to know for sure, I've been standing in the background for a while now and you got to say all the exciting stuff, so..."

"That's not true Haruko-chan, you're important. You built a lot of tension when you had that knife and menacingly peaked in the closet we locked them in earlier, remember?"

"... Whatever," Haruko rolled her eyes, "After going through a few reports, we were able to learn that soldiers were put through various operations that test the brain's response to certain chemicals.

By doing this they were able to give soldiers the ability to consciously manipulate certain bodily functions like the digestive system, heartbeat and things like it. Among these was the ability to manipulate bioelectricity for offensive and technological purposes."

"So... Thomas controls electricity in his body?"

"He can amplify it too, and manipulate electrical currents, fields, and appliances." Ayako chimed in, triggering a sad frown from Haruko.

"No! Okay, I'm sorry! I'll let you tell everything." Ayako, said scurrying to a desk with a few laptops and closing down a holographic screen that listed Thomas' strength measurements. I squinted a little before the device powered down.

Average force output: 2,574lbs

Maximum force output: 3,266lbs

I stood there frozen as the white glowing letters dispersed and looked at Thomas while he wandered aimlessly, kicking fragments of shattered concrete around while the others went on about him.

Out of all the years watching him, I never in millions of years would have fabricated the reality that stood before me. Why him and nobody else? Strength and power like that is horrifying and a total waste on one person, much less someone as unstable as he is. What is he gonna do with it?

If nobody else, I'd hope that god hasn't forgotten about me and yet here I am, still sore as I stand.

"Saava..." I could hear Narong mumble under his breath as we wandered the lab. I couldn't help but peek my ears as he continued. "This is just like..."

"Hey Thomas!" Kelly shouted, turning his way. "Why don't you try it on something?"

"Wait!" I shouted.

Everyone looked at me and I started to freeze up for some reason, "He shouldn't, what if he can't control it?"

"Have a little faith. He did save the both of you with it back when you were in that hospital, right?" Kelly said.

"He didn't 'use' it," I quipped. "It erupted out of nowhere because he was stressed or something, and the guy fell back into the wall, then some blades decapitated him."

"Well I'm not seeing any blades hanging from the ceiling in here. Besides, the door's that way if it looks like things are getting out of control."

I could feel myself beginning to frown a bit, "Since when did you get so comfortable with all this?"

"Since Ayako told us that Thomas is genetically built to level soldiers in situations exactly like this." Kelly raised her brows, "Why are you so off put? If Thomas wasn't our friend, chances are we'd be getting our asses handed to us by him right now. If not that, dead."

"I can't." Thomas said, suddenly. "... I sorta forgot how to use it."

"Try harder." said Kelly. "Remember how it felt when you first used it. What was going through your mind before it happened?"

"I wasn't thinking much. He'd tranquilized me a bunch not too long before we fought, I was feeling really weak and tired while I was fighting him." He said, folding his arms. "I just kept trying to focus on beating him and giving it everything I had."

"I can sense the mistake you're making."

We looked back toward Ayako as faint traces of glowing white faded from around her figure.

She put her clipboard down, "You seem to be conflating the physical force you exerted during that altercation with the sudden discovery of your electrokinetic abilities.

You're trying too hard. In order to use your abilities the right way, you need to understand how your body works. Electricity flows through us all the time. It's how our muscles move, and how the brain sends signals to different parts of our bodies. In order to manipulate it you have to feel it in your body."

Thomas and Ayako stood there for a while, not moving.

Thomas looked around, awkwardly. "... So how do I know when I get the 'feeling'?"

Ayako held up a finger. "First, I want you to breathe." She took a deep breath, motioning the inhales and exhales until Thomas began to follow.

"Good. Now completely relax and try your best to feel your body working. Pay attention to your heartbeat, for example."

The two stood there for a few seconds while me, Kelly and the others watched silently.

"Next slowly tense your muscles and try to feel the faint 'tingle'. This is the electricity your brain sends to move your muscles."

I could feel Kelly's anticipation and she stood near me, staring intently while Thomas half flexed his muscles. In fact, it was just then that I noticed Ken was just to the side of her. He hadn't said a word since we found him, and honestly the fact that he could watch and listen to this without being surprised at all was a bit creepy.

Seriously, what's with all these strange, new people?

"Hold your index fingers towards each other and focus as much of your bioelectricity through them as possible. Try it!"

We all stood there, watching as Thomas stared into the few inches of space between his fingers.

Kelly cheered quietly in a whisper, "C'mon, boy! Let's go!"

Barely a second later a loud zap shot chills into my being and I blinked a few times as Kelly's mouth spread into a childish grin at the sight before us. Flashes and sparks of blue current flowed between Thomas's digits while he looked into them, eyes wide with amazement.

"You did it!" Kelly shouted, "Holy shit, this is happening!"

"Well done!" Choa cheered, clapping with Narong as Ken gave nods of approval and showed the first emotion from him I'd noticed: surprise and a hint of amusement.

Ayako and Haruko high fived as Thomas played with his newfound skill; passing the dangerous but mesmerizing streams of electricity between fingers and even managing to generate a current between his palms while the others stood around to watch.

"This is great!" Haruko smirked, "Not just help, info and connections, we've got a real soldier!"

"Just keep practicing Thomas." Ayako said, "It can only help you get better."

A Few Hours Later

"Hey, Ayako." I said.

"Yes?"

I walked over into the kitchen and approached her as she squirted a sauce of some sort into the chicken she had been sautéeing.

"It wont be much longer, I promise." She said, "I'm cooking as fast as I can, and I know I saw Mao and Yuzuna-chan finishing the Custard Pudding and Dango earlier."

"Oh no, you're doing fine." I cleared my throat. "I was just wondering, though... How do you know so much about everything that's been happening so far?"

Ayako quickly put the finished orange chicken into a bowl and covered it, moving on to the next dish. "Well that answer is pretty long, but as for me, I've always been personally involved."

"Really?" I leaned toward the stove a bit as she stepped over to get some spices, "Ho-OW!"

I frantically waved my burned hand in the air as she jumped in surprise, then took hold of my wrist and sent goosebumps across my skin as her touch instantaneously caused the burn, and pain, to disappear.

"My father was a renowned scientist who was quite literally obsessed with the concept of transhumanism. After my mom passed, there was no reason to restrain himself anymore. He'd always tell me that even as a baby I was experimented on, and as I got older things only became even more strange. It's the reason my hair is this color."

"Really?"

Ayako nodded.

"Well, I think pink hair is cute."

She rolled her eyes, smiling a little. "Every time I leave the mansion, people think I'm cosplaying someone or trying to normalize anime hair. It can be annoying."

The piercing whistle of a Tea Kettle began to fill the room.

"Travis, could you turn that off?"

I clicked the second option under the digital clock displayed across Ayako's electric stove. The Japanese text was bigger, but luckily I sould spot 'Stop 2nd Plate' right underneath in tiny letters.

"Thank you." Ayako said.

"It's okay, nothing too difficult."

I paced the kitchen for a little bit, unsure of what to say.

"So, where's your father now?"

"He went to America to work with them for the war a few years ago. During that time I myself had dedicated my life to stopping the crisis." Ayako wiped her forehead before going on to tend to some dishes. "I've held down everything here well, with the help of my friends of course. I was even able to graduate high school early."

"I'm not that surprised, you've gotta be pretty smart to read reports and hack stuff..."

By now the smell of everything was too powerful to ignore, I didn't know much about the cooking process, much less Japanese dishes or spices or anything close to that.

I inhaled deeply, "What are you cooking?"

"Nothing at the moment," Ayako said. "I've only managed to cook orange chicken, rice, and Udon. We weren't expecting to have you stay, so we didn't makes plans to feed to many people. On top of making more of everything, I'm short on hands since the only other people who can cook are Mao and Yuzuna, and they don't live here so they left an hour ago..."

"Y'know, Thomas can cook pretty well." I said, remembering the taste of some skewers he made while we were staying in Silona.

Ayako whipped her head towards me, her eyes beaming with hope. "Really?"

"Yeah. Just before we left Tajora, Thomas helped to feed the entire village. Then there was that time back in boarding school..."

I found myself snickering at the memory.

Four Years Ago. Twoson Boarding School, Lincoln Province, U.P.A. 10:21pm

Thomas whispered, "You almost done pickin' that lock?"

"I'm trying!" Kelly quipped. "You two just keep on the lookout... And don't drop those eggs."

"Aye eye, lady!" he said, saluting before he turned around and started to dramatically mimic my movements as I shot my gaze back and forth across the campus.

"I got it!" Kelly said, pushing the door in and fanning us in.

We crept through the vacant, dark hallways, gazing around at the tall lockers and seemingly gigantic staircases as we wandered around.

"Cookin' room... Cookin' room..." Thomas muttered to himself. "I wanna make stuff in you..."

Kelly looked at him, trying to hold in laughter. "What did you just say?"

"Cookin room... Cookin' room..."

"The last part," I said.

"Oh, I said I wanna make stuff in you."

She started at him for a while, smiling at what he said for some reason.

I furrowed my brows, "What's funny?"

Thomas started for a few seconds, "Oh, she's nasty!"

Kelly began laughing even more as I looked on in confusion.

"What's that?"

Kelly quickly pulled herself together. "Don't worry about it, you'll look back and get it one day."

"C'mon!" I whined, "You guys always say stuff that I can't get, stop hiding stuff! You're just like grown ups!"

Thomas turned around to shush me. "You could still get us-."

He backed into Kelly who paused just in front of us. She held out an arm in response and gracefully gestured towards a door window only she was tall enough to see through.

"Lemme see!" said Thomas.

He rushed over and stood on his tippy toes, pressing his cheeks against the glass and fogging it up before he turned back towards Kelly, grinning. I walked towards the door and tried to see, but alas, the tips of my toes cold only raise my ray of vision just below the seals.

"I... I can't..." I could suddenly feel myself getting lifted by the waist and I could see inside the classroom now. There were two, maybe three rows of desks with stoves, sinks, and ovens connected. The equipment seemed a bit dingy, but it was there and I was hungry, so I wouldn't have much of a problem if we wiped the one we'd be using down.

"We careful Thomas. Use your hips to lift him, not your back." Kelly warned, already beginning to pick the lock.

Thomas let me down and in seconds Kelly had opened the door. We walked into the the class, it seemed huge and before I'd finished checking to see if anyone noticed our entry or was following us, Thomas startled me with the sound of bowls and pans clanging against each other.

"Quiet!" I whispered.

"Sorry, I-."

"It's fine." Kelly interrupted, "Just make the stuff, I'm dying here..."

"Kay."

Me and Kelly watched as Thomas quickly went to work. Kelly gave him the bag and he swiftly began to mix the ingredients: Eggs, bread crumbs, canned salmon, and green onion.

"Lemme help you with that," said Kelly as I looked at the mesmerizing concoction, sneaking a bread crumb or two. "That's a big knife."

Thomas handed it to Kelly and she quickly sliced the green onions before handing it back. I started to wonder if this was how kids usually felt with parents and relatives. Having these people over who who keep secrets, tell you to be careful, tell you not to do stuff, and make sure you're okay.

I even looked at our racial characteristics: Thomas being black, me being white, Kelly being mixed. It was a funny coincidence. I knew for a fact that we didn't share any blood, but I'd still begun to think.

Are we still a family?

I began to hear sizzling and I turned to see them forming the mixture Thomas had made into small little patties and placing them in the pan, I helped even though not much was left.

Me and Kelly went to stand by the door as Thomas instructed and waited in anticipation for a few minutes, wondering exactly what is was that Thomas had promised to make.

"Guys."

We turned back towards him as he came back towards us, his bag looking pretty full.

He galloped past us and fanned us over, "Let's leave! I'm done cookin' stuff."

We followed him closely, retracing our steps quietly and carefully until we eventually left the building. Thomas ran forward and sat down on a small grass patch in the plaza, smack in the middle of the three main buildings.

We walked toward him and sat down as he fished a plastic container out of his bag.

"I present to you..." he theatrically removed the lid and a good smell hit my nostrils. "Salmon Croquettes!"

Kelly took one and bit into it. I could see her cheekbones raise with a small smile. "This is great!" Kelly said, giving him a high five.

I took one and ate a small piece, chewing faster and faster once that new, wonderful flavor spread across my tongue. I just sat there, my gaze pointed towards the food in my hands while I felt the warmth in Twoson's night air.

It was so good. I don't know how else to explain it.

"Well?" Thomas looked towards me with a pondering expression. "Are you gonna vomit?"

"N-No." I quickly finished mine and took another one. "This is really good, Thomas."

He bit into one and closed his eyes in satisfaction, then nodded. "Thank you guys."

Present

"That's adorable." Ayako said.

"How?"

"The way you guys are all such good friends. You've been together for so long, and through all of this to top it off."

I started to flush a little at the thought of it all. I mean this whole thing is scary, and I'd honestly prefer to just walk away, but we're in all of this together. The fact that we've stayed friends this long and haven't given up yet made me feel special, like I was a part of something.

"Yeah," I said. "That's nice, but why are you so comfortable with us?"

Ayako frowned a bit, "What do you mean?"

"I mean, I know we're both involved but why do you trust that we're innocent good people?"

"I'm not sure if I've told you, but my abilities allow me to sense more than your health." She looked at her hands. "I can feel your emotions, so I know all of you are genuine."

Ayako stared into space a bit, a sullen look on her face and an uncomfortable silence fell over me.

"Oh..."

Thomas

A-Ah... It t-tickles...

Since this morning I've been feeling this weird tingle in my bones. It's a little annoying, but it tickles so much and I don't know how to make it go away. Based on what Ayako said, it's probably because my bones are so metallic. I guess that means I've always got some sorta electrical charge running through me.

That's gonna be really hard if I'm near any met-.

"Ah!"

I felt some shock pass from my fingers into a doorknob I was near. It felt sorta good, and I started giggling to myself. I mean, how awesome is this? I can generate and control electricity! If I was the type to prank, or was just a dick in general, everybody in here would be screwed over big time.

I looked at my hands and debated whether or not to create a flash or not.

Why the hell not?

Just for shits and giggles, right?

I held my palms near each other and spread them a bit, about as wide as they'd be if I were holding a basketball, and flexed my mental muscles in concentration.

*Buzz...POP!*

I felt a grin appear on my face. That buzz was starting to sound so beautiful. Man, this was gonna be-.

*ZZZAP!*

Bright blue current was firing off and collecting in between my hands. I started to try controlling it and stared into the energy, slowly I'd began to form it into a neat ball.

"Nice job."

The electricity vanished into my body once I got startled and turned around to see Ken. He actually spoke to me, y'know using words instead of just staring or attacking me.

"Thanks." I muttered.

He looked at me a bit and smiled. Ken's smirk was so relaxed and disarming I'd started to forget everything I previously thought about him. The guy standing in front of me was a totally different person, a chilled out soul. A pleased, supportive little dude.

Ken started stretching his arms. "Cool off with the stress a little, it doesn't do much to help with focus and there isn't any danger."

I was barely listening to the words as much as his voice. It had such a crisp, mature tone. Only about as deep as any twelve or thirteen year old's would be, but old in a strange way. Like I could hear intelligence and wisdom in the dense sound waves bouncing around the halls.

I delayed responding for a few seconds and honestly hoped he'd say something else. I could listen to a voice like that all day, and he had such a smooth Tajoran accent to boot. To think it most likely hadn't even broken yet.

"Sure, just sorta excited. I doubt there's many people like me, y'know?"

I tried my best to sound relaxed. Not too monotonous, or quiet so he couldn't understand, but not too loud or weird at the same time. Couldn't have him thinking bad about me.

As to why I care... I mean, hell, I dunno.

Ken gave me a glad look, the corners of his mouth curled only a little and eyebrows raised. After looking at his face and noticing his sideburns I couldn't help but think, he's gonna look so cool and hot with facial hair.

Just give it a few months, or about a year. Hopefully neither of us get murdered by then...

"Thomas!"

I head Travis voice and he ran in from the right hallway.

"Ayako needs your help cooking, she's the only one here who knows how and there's a ton of food."

I felt my heart skip a beat after that last part, I didn't even hesitate walking back to wherever the kitchen was with him. I noticed Ken start to follow us too.

Whatever was in there, hell it was gonna be good after I finished.

Roughly Two Hours later

"Itadakimasu!"

All the girls and I said before chowing down on this dinner me and Ayako worked our asses off cooking. It was fun for me so I have no complaints, still I can't believe nobody else knows how to cook. That's a first in life. How do these people feed themselves? Boiled hot dogs?

Just thinking that brings me back to a time where that and school food was all me, Kelly and Travis ate. Good thing I started figuring out different ways to feed myself and put those skills to use when it came to the three of us.

As I picked up a juicy slab of grilled meat with my chopsticks I couldn't help but notice Ken struggle beside me. He was gripping a chopstick in each hand, stabbing the delicacies on his plate with them and shoving whatever he could into his mouth, then chomping loudly as a few girls grinned nervously and looked our way.

Ken suddenly began to slow down, a sultry look following the initial shock in his eyes. He turned my way a little, "Who made this?"

I looked at his plate, Salad, Miso Soup, Potstickers, and Teriyaki Chicken filled his plate. I actually made all three of those. "I did." I replied.

Ken looked back at his plate, finishing everything and refilling his plate a within the next few minutes. A lot of people were glancing at him and I think I saw a few girls whisper to each other, I wanted to let him know that his manners were off but I felt like that conversation was for another time.

It's not like he just forgot, if he's been surviving in a rainforest on his own for years he's practically feral. I could tell within the first few seconds of sitting down that he didn't seem to understand how forks or knives worked, probably thought we were getting set up for some type of brutal second interrogation or something.

"Here," I said, reaching over and gently penetrating a pot sticker with a fork. "You use it like that."

Ken grabbed the fork in a similar way I did and downed the pot sticker, and in a few seconds I noticed him watching me again while I ate. He picked up a pair of chopsticks and tried to copy me, so I, pretending not to notice, nonchalantly reached for the bowl of Ramen near my right so he could see me better than anyone.

I picked up each bunch of noodles somewhat slowly, making sure he could see my fingers. I watched him through the corner of my eye as he picked the sticks up and positioned them in his hand.

Just like that.

He'd gotten the hang of it rather quickly, which satisfied me.

"Which one do you think tastes best?" Ken said, not even looking my way.

I felt a little flushed, the fact that he asked my opinion caught me by surprise.

"Try the Bao."

He looked back and forth across the table, so I used a napkin to grab one from the bamboo steamer. I know I made different types of Bao; some were veggie, some were beef, pork, BBQ Pork. Whether he'd like the one I happened to grab or any other of the varieties was a crapshot.

When I placed it on his plate he looked at me before sniffing the stuffed white bun, his nostrils twitching a little. I could notice Kelly staring towards us, dawning a strangely polite 'what the fuck' expression while Travis' mouth sorta just gaped open a little.

Ken picked up the Bao and bit into it like an apple, when I saw the inside I could tell he'd gotten BBQ Pork. I liked that one. He chewed slowly, and more slowly until it seemed as if he was powering down, like a toy on low batteries. I watched in anticipation, totally unsure of what his reaction would be.

I sat there, debating whether or not to ask if it was good or not. Would it look insecure? I didn't wanna risk it, I saw in a manga I read that insecurity across the board is unattractive and makes you look needy, and I am not needy and insecure!

Well, maybe the latter or else I wouldn't be having this discussion with myself, but he still doesn't need to know that...

Ken quickly ripped another chunk of his BBQ Pork bun with his teeth then devoured the rest. I could hear his breathing intensify and saw his nostrils flare.

Before I could process my concern he'd began leaning dangerously far onto the table, almost to the point of crawling on top.

"Ken."

He tuned me out, his almond shaped eyes narrow and fixated on the dozen meat buns a few feet away from him. He was actively sniffing them out, like a predator slowly clawing towards its prey in the wild as everyone at the table gaped and gossiped about what he was doing.

It was starting to piss me off that they were talking about him and giving him looks even though any average person wouldn't be able to help themselves. I was cringing from second hand embarrassment and the little smirks appearing on people's faces had made me livid.

Ken put a knee on the table and I could literally sense him about to ravage everything there. I heard faint gasps as he climbed up on all fours and pounced toward the food. My body reacted and I snatched his body out of the air and strapped him into my chest.

"Ken...!"

He writhed and squirmed in my hold while Kelly held her head and most everybody else's eyes stayed fixed on us.

I tried to keep my voice low. "Cut it! This ain't the damn jungle!"

He slowed down and eventually stopped moving. A lot of them pretended not to notice and quietly resumed eating. I chuckled under my breath a little, the embarrassment was killing me and I wanted to scream.

Still, the fact that he made himself look like that hurt me. I don't want anymore people looking down on him, but the worse part is I'm not even sure he could help it much. The look in his eyes reminded me of our initial meeting in Tajora. I thought he was just being an ass back there, but it looks like he was acting on instinct.

Ken may be human, but seriously I doubt he's anything like us.

"... Sorry." he mumbled.

"It's okay," I said, trying to look calmer than I felt. "Nobody's in a rush to eat, so just relax..."

I let him go and he slid to the floor before crawling back into his chair and slouching, his face downcast.

"So..." Travis' voice trailed awkwardly. "We haven't met you all yet. I'm Travis, there's Kelly." he nodded my way. "Thomas."

I heard a small girl whisper.

"In english it's first name before last, right?"

Ritsu nodded and the small girl introduced herself, "Hi, everyone. My name is Keiko Sohma and it's nice to meet you."

Everyone went on to introduce themselves. Apparently Ritsu and Keiko are sisters. Keiko is only eleven and her sister is just a few months younger than Kelly.

So besides Ayako, Haruko, Mitsuba, and the Sohma sisters, we had Mao Tadashi, Yuzuna Fukumoto, and Sae Hoshikawa. It was a lot of introductions, but I think I remembered everyone's face well enough.

"... We're all like family. Some of us live together and work to do what we can about the war. Now that we've united, it's necessary to start planning the next phase of action."

Ayako had finally caught my attention after she and the girls finished laughing about something none of us outsiders could understand. "We're up against time, something cataclysmic could occur at any moment."

"We should start training with them!" Ritsu blurted, "They fought all the way here, so they must have great stories and combat skills."

Kelly wiped her face and leaned on her wrist, "We could use some discipline. Especially this one."

She teased Travis, squeezing his arm.

"I-I'm perfectly in shape!" Travis stuttered.

Kelly turned his way with sarcastically pouted lips and a raised brow.

"It is! My clothes just don't define my body right..."

Kelly's eyes widened. "Dang!"

"What?" quipped Travis.

"Our stuff! It's still back at the plane with Maui and that pretty one."

Glad Kelly mentioned it, it's been a long day but I doubt I would've forgotten. I can't sleep good unless I cuddle something, so I would've gotten tired and realized my Dakimakura was gone sooner rather than later.

"We can retrieve your things." said Choa, standing rather quickly. "Narong."

They both walked off and I saw Kelly looking at me. She kept tilting her head in their direction as if to say I should tag along to make sure everything's in order.

One of my first protests was leaving Ken behind unhappy, it wasn't my fault at al,l but I can't help how I feel when I see him like that. I left the table a scurried after them. I'm not sure how they remembered the way, but they did and I managed to scurry along with them.

Down the darkened, quiet streets of the local neighborhood and to countryside, we walked rather quietly except for the murmuring between them about how we waited this long to go back for Ahomana and Maui.

Choa's voice reverberated calmly. "Thomas, may I ask a question?"

"Sure."

"How do you feel about your power?"

I reflected on this morning, the memories ranging from the walls of text and reports Ayako dug up, to numbers, to that electric ball I made in the halls of that mansion.

"It's cool," I said. "Just learning to deal with it since it's gonna be a part of my life from now on."

There was silence for a few seconds. "Power like that is a heavy responsibility, I hope you take these things seriously. It's important that you learn to use them properly and speak up if you're having trouble."

"... I know..." I said.

We continued to walk along the grassy shoreline and eventually came across the familiar patch of gravel and sand. It became larger the further we went on. I could see the crashed plane in the distance, and after climbing over a few clusters of rock I could see a flask and the outline of broad shoulders glow above the still waters.

If nothing else, the one thing I did recognize was the big mane of red swaying on the ocean and a faint humming.

"MAUI!"

He open his eyes, "Hm?"

"Are you drunk?!"

Maui looked at Choa with innocent, yet mischievous eyes and the smirk of a child. In a few seconds he burst into laughter and Choa stood silently, the corners of his mouth downturned and side of his nose twitching before he quickly marched past Maui and towards the damaged craft.

I followed him quickly and we both entered.

"Ahomana!"

There was no response, so Choa quickly headed towards the cockpit and burst through the door. Inside sat Ahomana, his legs up and eyes casually scanning the contents of a small book.

"H-E-L-L-O?" Choa shouted, "The hell wrong with you?! Ya bloodclot deaf?!"

"Proper, standard english please." Ahomana responded, not bothering to look at us.

"You two are hopeless!" Choa screamed, his words slurring with his accent. "What if something happened to Master Ken? Why didn't you investigate?!"

"He told us to watch Chompoo."

"Master Ken's life takes top priority. You could've still..." Choa hesitated and looked back towards the other side of the dimly lit plane. "Where is Chompoo anyway?"

"Ah!" I heard Narong squeal.

I went back through the door and saw movement inside a bag Narong was standing by. I could see a pink snout pushing through the zipper before the little pig emerged from Narong's luggage, chewing on a notebook and triggering a whimper from him.

Narong sighed. "Chompoo..."

Narong placed as much luggage as he could on his back and picked up what was left of his notebook. He pulled Chompoo out of his bag and cradled him in his arms before sitting back down to wait for us.

With not much else to say, me and Choa stepped outside, opened the cargo hold, and started gathering our luggage from the plane. I could already tell we were gonna have to make a trip or two. Not sure why the hell they brought so much stuff or what it was, but I knew I wasn't gonna be bothered with taking that everywhere we went.

His body strapped with luggage in almost every way possible; his back, shoulders, neck, waist, and even the outside of his thighs, Choa walked over and sat down on some rocks while I attempted to minimize the amount of walking I'd have to do in the future.

I decided that I'd start by lifting the really big stuff that was uncomfortable to carry, the first being a large rectangular crate with lots of heavy metal judging by the way it sounded when I initially jerked it from it's position.

Ahomana snickered, nudging Narong and whispering something to him while looking my way. "Alright, there's no need to hurt yourself in the process of attempting to show off."

I rolled my eyes and ignored him.

"I'll lift-."

Ahomana's pupils shrunk and his entire body froze after I slung it from the earth and caught it over my head. I turned and walked away, smirking.

Asshole...

Maui started giggling at his reaction.

"Shut up." ordered Ahomana.

"Ah... Why... Aā te aha... i... ai?" Maui took another swing from his flask.

"You're mixing languages together." said Narong.

Maui splashed some ocean water on his face and wiped it away. "Why you so mean, Aho?"

"Why do you have to be such a drunk dumbass?" Ahomana scowled.

"C'mon..." Maui whined. "Don't be like that."

"Stop talking to me."

"But I... *Hick* But I love you, Aho... If your cock were a little bigger I'd never let you go..."

I had to cover my mouth so fast I almost dropped the damn crate and they could still hear my laughing. If I were trying to swallow liquid it would've sprayed from my nose.

I was not ready for that comeback.

Narong wasn't either, he didn't even try to contain himself. He was cackling so hysterically, I didn't even try to be quiet anymore because his chortle was the only thing you could probably hear in the entire area.

"What's wrong with your head?!" Ahomana snapped. "It's not even funny!"

"Y-Y-Yea-." Narong could barely form words. "YEAH IT IS! BECAUSE IT'S TRUE!"

"You're retarded! Something's wrong with you!"

"I'VE SEEN IT IN THE SHOWER!"

I almost doubled over when he said that. Maui's drunk laughter was out of control and Narong was dead.

I could see how red Ahomana's face was getting even under the night sky's faint glow "You're supposed to be SUPPORTIVE! I HATE you!"

All of us with the sole exception of Ahomana kept cracking and chucking at each other's laughter.

Choa managed to stay rather calm, not showing much more than a grin. "... How did I get assigned with all of you?"

We didn't have much to say and things tended to die down.

Maui still got the last chuckle. "Heh heh... Look." He said to me, holding out half a pinky. "Aho's penis..."

I giggled to myself again.

Living with these guys is gonna be fun.

One Week Later

Ken

"C'mon! I can take it!"

"You don't know that." Choa said.

"It doesn't matter, this is supposed to be serious training and you're cheating me here!"

Choa rolled his eyes and backed away as Kelly continued to argue with him, her hands placed defensively on her hips as she leaned forward.

"What, you think we're gonna run into some danger and the enemy's gonna be like 'Oh, she has a vagina! Don't hit that one!'? HELL no!"

"Look, you've only been using punching bags up until this point, I'm just not sure if you're ready for this. It's not personal."

"How am I supposed to get better if nobody ever challenges me?! I've been in fights before, this isn't new to me!"

"Yes it is!" Choa snapped a little. "I'm not some punk kid from America or a Civilian, I've been training my whole life and my father is the Guard Captain. I could seriously hurt you!"

"You don't have to try to kill me! Just give me something to work with!"

Choa sighed before turning his body to the side, his stance lowered and legs far apart while panting and the grunts of others sounded around the two.

Kelly smiled a little, a soft breeze blowing the strands of hair out of her face. "Finally." She quickly got into her stance. "You ready?"

"Ye-."

A fist exploded from Kelly's form and into Choa's neck while he attempted to grab her, but she snatched her arm back and quickly regained her distance. The two eyed each other carefully, circling the grassy space while I studied their movement.

The anticipation is a bit much...

I allowed my mind to melt, my breaths even as darkness clouded my vision and faint dreamlike imagery glowed into existence, mirroring the scenario that had just been in front of me.

I watched as it played out. In the first vision, Choa launched into her, snatching her arms and pinning her to the ground as others quickly turned our way with worried eyes.

It went fuzzy, and in the second scenario I could see Choa charging her way and knocking her down with a dropkick faster than she could run from before Thomas shouted her name.

The colors swirled again, and I could see Kelly nearly collapse to avoid Choa's roundhouse before diving under him and rolling to her feet. They two resumed their stances and Kelly launched towards him before everything glowed out and my sight returned to the present.

Not a second had passed.

Still, I had only taken a glimpse into a few possible futures. Whether the ones I'd seen would play out or not was still up for speculation. After all, I only bother to watch the most likely scenarios.

Choa's leg flew through the air, just missing Kelly as she fell to her knees and dove underneath him to the other side and took her stance.

Third time's a charm.

Kelly extended her left arm and Choa reached out to block it, allowing her to throw another jab at his nose with her right.

Choa stepped back and relaxed. "A fake out, huh?"

"Yeah," Kelly said, wiping her forehead. "You never know, right?"

I can tell that he didn't expect a young girl from America to be so fierce. Kelly's technique is a little sloppy, but she has the force and willpower for battle. I can sense it in her aura.

"Travis!" Choa turned towards him as he sat down on the ground near some outdoor punching bags we'd set up. "What are you doing? You must come train formally!"

He quietly ignored Choa and turned away a little bit.

Kelly shouted. "C'mon! We're all doing our best! This isn't easy for anyone!"

Ahomana slowed down and began jogging in place beside her. He drank some water and ran his fingers through his hair, grinning. "It's easy for me." He chuckled, jogging off before she could roll her eyes.

I could hear Travis sigh before standing up. He took a typical boxer's stance, a bit looser than it should have been, and threw a punch at the punching bag. It shifted a bit and I couldn't help but snicker. Travis isn't suited well for physical combat at all right now.

Kelly was making those things move on her first day, my guards didn't even need to start there, and Thomas broke like four of them and moved on to technique refinement a few days ago.

I could hear Choa mumble to himself. "No good..." He took a deep breath. "Travis! Come over here!"

He came and Choa put him and Kelly through what felt like a few hours of running, dodging, and punching while I watched idly, trying not to nod off.

"THAT WAS HORRIBLE!" Choa yelled. "Kelly! You punch like a girl! Travis! YOU somehow punch even worse!"

Kelly frowned even harder as she tried to catch her breath, then threw one after another as hard as she could. "Eeeeyah!... Punch like a girl, huh?! How's that!? HYAAA!"

I glanced over at Maui, Ahomana, and Narong, who seemed to be rather contented with weight lifting. Well, Maui and Narong were enjoying themselves, Ahomana was too busy trying to outdo Thomas in pretty much everything. He never could, but I didn't expect him not to try.

I looked back at Choa as he continued to coach Travis and Kelly. It seemed easy enough, so I went over and joined them in the flowing stream as they tried not to fall.

"NO! Don't just stand on the rocks! Find your inner balance! FOCUS!"

Kelly was shaking a little. "I-Inner what?!"

I looked over and was amazed at how Travis wasn't toppling over already. Eighty percent of him was leaning all the way to the side, I'm still not sure how that was possible."I-I can't stare at this rock any h-harder!"

"... This isn't so bad." I said, not moving a muscle. "I thought this was supposed to be harsh training."

Choa smiled at me. "That's because you're a natural at this, Master Ken."

I closed my eyes and allowed myself to feel Choa's energy. I focused calmly, mimicking the wavelength of his psionic vibrations until the sound of his thoughts passed through my mind.

"I'd better not push him too hard. The other two, however..."

It wasn't too long after that when Choa rounded up everyone and had us running laps. Based on what I could sense, he had intended to do so until one of us passed out.

Choa fist pumped into the air. "FIGHT!!"

Thomas threw another one. "FIGHT!"

Kelly, Maui, Ahomana, and Narong followed suit. Travis didn't even bother, in fact I think they went around the entire track and passed him about three times.

I sat down on the side of the trail and Travis slowed to a halt a few moments later. He collapsed a few feet from me, wheezing loudly on the ground as Choa turned back.

"Get up! I didn't say we could rest!"

"Okay, okay, okay. Now hold on." Kelly said, placing a towel around her shoulders. "I think that's enough training for today, it was nice at first but I don't think this is good for everyone."

"Thanks..." Travis exhaled. "I didn't know... H-how much more I c-c-could take..."

Kelly turned back towards Choa. "Choa, you, Thomas, and the other guys may be a little similar, but we all have different builds. Travis knows a lot about guns and stuff, Thomas has his electric thing going on, and I've been working with explosives for a while now. With you guys here I think we've got enough muscle."

She continued. "It'll be better if we all play to our strengths and work together. It'll make things easier, maybe even a bit fun."

I couldn't help but look at her. That energy of hers, it's like Yuhzora's. They both have the same viciousness, the same determination and willpower to fight through things like this.

I could never comprehend how to harness will like that though, I'd never even expect myself to. Not after what happened in Tajora when I was a little kid. It was moments like this where I began to wonder why I was even sitting there.

For what purpose was I training with them? Why hadn't I ran off on my own already? It seemed obvious enough that staying with this group would only put myself in danger of being pursued by whatever force was conspiring to take their lives.

My guards are sworn to protect me and follow my orders, so I wouldn't be alone.

Not that I mind.

The only thing that kept me from leaving was my vision. I had it after I met Thomas. I was fleeing through the foliage of my home and stopped to devour my spoils from that encounter when a sensation of warmth washed over me. It was like nothing it'd felt before, and the senses beyond my basic five only enhanced it.

I saw and felt everything in that moment, I don't even know what word could describe it.

Thomas was there, I couldn't comprehend where we were, or the events leading towards that moment, but I could sense we had a bond. In that moment I'd never felt such a powerful longing for an experience like that. I always wanted to explore the world beyond Tajora, to taste and see things I never imagined would exist. That's something I could daydream about, but to have someone with me and feel the way I felt in that moment. To have that same emotion coursing through my heart and veins...

That to me is unbelievable, unexpected, amazing, talented, brilliant, incredible, show-stopping, spectacular, never the same, orgasmic, totally unique, completely never been done before, unafraid to be referenced or not referenced, put it in a blender, bomb it, eat it, give birth to it...

I think you get the point.

But still, to be in a situation like this that I may never be able to run from where billions of lives in danger... I'm not even sure there's much fun to be had.

The dissonance was aggravating, just trying to sort through my thoughts annoyed me. I couldn't help but feel the need to escape, leaving was always a bit calming to me.

The others continued to argue and I walked off. It didn't take much effort, leaving unnoticed was my specialty. I crossed the stone bridge to the same pathway they'd discovered me on and released a small amount of psychic energy from my body.

I could feel it flow like a warm tingly breeze from my pores, across my skin, under my clothes, and through my hair, enveloping me in a velvety, faint cyan glow. I lifted myself and glid through the bamboo, floating just a few feet above ground while I scanned the area around me.

The ground in front of me started to rise upward, I could see hills in the distance and in the patches of thinning bamboo trickled waterfalls. Not too large, about as big as five or six mes.

I slowed down and hovered near the edge of a large green pond. I could see to the bottom, to the smooth rocks and swimming fish, and my eyes passed towards the source of the shallow ripples. I looked at the waterfall, analyzing the rock structure. The size of them, their texture, how they supported each other for what could've been hundreds of years.

I descended to the ground and took a moment to feel the environment, study this part of earth with my senses and connect with the planet. I'd done this with my previous home in Tajora. For the majority of its dwellers that had come across that place, it was nothing; an old jungle strewn with ruins, giant stone faces, and ancient temples that held themselves together yet were overgrown, even torn from the earth itself and suspended over cliffs and watery gorges by a plethora of humongus roots.

Years of memories were had there. I spent every day alone. Waking up in different hours of the day, and sometimes night. Walking through the dirt and mud, scaling the trees, feeling the radiance of sunlight peeking through leaves and onto my skin while I paraded around in nothing but my bare flesh for weeks on end, falling asleep, even nearly drowning on one occasion, under the downpour and mist of waterfalls.

That place may not be highly regarded or remembered, but that place become a sacred home since my finding it. It was my sanctuary. Nothing will ever compare to it, but for now I would need a new one and a mansion could never suffice.

I raised my hands and stretched them out slightly, my palms gently opened, and felt the energy of the rocks, linking mine with them until they became a mere extension of myself. With my eyes fixed on about three, I lifted them from the pond and curled the tips of my fingers ever so slightly, coaxing them to float in front of me before I allowed them to slowly fall.

I leapt from one stone to another. It wasn't too difficult, they were large enough to stand comfortably on. As I made my way across I couldn't help but be a bit impressed with myself, I doubt many people could lift those very easily, yet I didn't have to apply an ounce of physical force. My psychokinetic abilities seemed useful in that way, it felt like nothing was impossible. I could get fruits, hover around, lift boulders, or just take things from other humans I don't like without worry of getting caught.

I won't lie, the reactions people have when their drinks and dinner plates inexplicably float off into the distance is rather hilarious.

But that's beside the point. I came close to the waterfall and felt out the structure of everything. There was space on the inside, lots of water behind the rocks and running current.

The insides can protect me from the elements, I need to let the creatures inside know I'm not a threat, I might be able to make things comfortable...

There's work to do.

Thomas

"Ended a bit early today..." I said.

Ayako looked at me. "Are you kidding? The workouts only get harder!"

"Really?"

"Yes."

We didn't say much else. The others went back in the mansion a few minutes ago, me and Ayako just walked around her estate. She owned a few storehouses, some gardens here and there, a pond, a fountain or two, I may have even seen a bathhouse...

"Ayako."

"Hm?"

I hesitated a bit. "Is there any other training I could do?"

"That's not the way to go if you're trying to build muscle," Ayako said. "Your muscles grow stronger and heal themselves during periods of rest, contrary to popular belief."

"It's not about that..."

I never really worked out much, but in the past weeks it's actually been fun. I think it helped with my mood swings because I'm feeling a lot better nowadays. Ayako said it's because exercise releases endorphins, which is good for a lot of reasons based on what I hear.

Thing is, it gives me an excuse to get away from the others. It's not that I don't like them or anything, I just haven't had my space in a while. Getting away to train by myself helps me think, and since my genes are built for this kind of stuff I have a lot of expendable energy. If I don't do something I get all twitchy and uncomfortable.

Ayako sighed. "Well, if you must there is a dojo not too far from here. I'm not too sure what they train in though..."

"Are you sure it's safe for me to go there? Y'know, with who I am and all..."

"They live a different lifestyle from the public. They dedicate their lives to their discipline and aren't allowed access to technology or the media."

I got chills at the thought of that. I mean, no games? Or MP3? What the hell...

"I'll give it a go." I said, kicking a rock. "Not the whole lifestyle change, I meant seeing what they have to teach me."

We walked further out of Ayako's backyard, traversing further and further into the wilds. We didn't get deep into the trees or anything, we stayed mostly on a dirt road and eventually ran into some stone stairs leading up a rather steep incline.

We rose higher and higher above the trees and I almost tripped from staring at the earth beyond where we'd just come from. The shiny green water in deep basins not too far from the city flowed through everything.

"Ayako, why's the water look like that?"

She turned around. "You mean the color?"

I nodded.

"Could be lots of things. Phytoplankton, minerals, algae."

I could see mountains in the distance as we walked along and my mouth gaped a little. I was used to mountains in Silona, they were steep too, but they were really broad and huge in general. The mountains ahead shot upwards from the ground like rugged pillars of earth. Unless you had claws or could fly, I'd never imagine anybody being able to climb one.

It was like something out of your typical Kung Fu movie where old masters and young samurai train high up in places like this and long, bearded, red dragons flew around. Some went into the clouds, green bushes and bonsai trees sprouting from the sides.

"We're here."

It didn't take very long to reach the place. It was what you'd expect after hearing the word 'dojo'; a building with glazed tiles and paper sliding doors, about three stories high. There were a few other buildings around it too. Based on what Ayako said, they probably house the people that train here.

I glanced at the text near the doorway and one word stood out

"Sumo."

So I'm learning how to grab to shove fat guys, huh?

I mean, technically I signed up for this so I can't really blame anyone...

Ayako pushed open the sliding doors and we stepped inside to a match in progress. After one guy got tossed from the ring everybody started clapping, but slowly stopped for some reason.

I noticed that everyone suddenly looked my way. Ayako stepped forward.

"This boy wants to learn from you. If you wish, may you teach him everything?"

The guy looked at me and smirked. I guess that was meant to be offensive because I just smirked back. I mean, he had fish eyes and no eyebrows, it really wasn't that difficult.

He must've thought I couldn't understand Japanese, because he started making fun of me to the other guys there. Apparently since I'm not of Japanese descent, have 'dirty' skin, am American, and weigh less than 300 pounds, training me would be a waste of time.

"Anata wa osorete iru desu ka?"

They stopped laughing and looked at me.

I continued. "If I'm beneath you then there's nothing to be afraid of."

"You shouldn't underestimate him." Ayako said. "It would be a great disservice to you all."

Their master turned back toward me, something resembling a scowl of sorts on his face.

I picked up on things fast while we were there. The guy's name was Takayama, but the guys call him Naoto-sensei. They'd called me up for a match rather quickly and without really giving me a proper runthrough of everything.

I mean, it's sumo wrestling; you grab people and try to push them off of the mat while standing on nothing but your toes. If you fall down, get pushed out, or let your heels touch the ground, you lose. I knew that.

When I mentioned training I meant learning new techniques for fighting and stuff. Like different strikes and maneuvers, maybe even some Judo. I'd basically only learned kick-boxing in the past week so I felt like mixing things up would be cool, but I guess I'd enjoy slapping these guys around.

Did I mention that was allowed too?

A guy got on the opposite side of the ring and did that thing sumos do, y'know where they raise each leg and stomp really hard? I didn't really feel like doing that, so while he was flashing the shit out of everyone I just took off my shirt and got ready. I was wearing my favorite sweatpants that day too, so I was good.

I got into position with my knees and feet apart, on my toes, leaning forward, with my fingers to the salted ring.

He was glaring at me, fists to the ground. It would be a while before the match went underway. A big part of the whole sumo experience is the wrestlers trying to scare each other and get all riled up. While I was there it pissed me off to be honest, it's just some guy staring me down and trying to scare me like I'm a wimpy ass kid.

I stared at him while he took forever to do something. He invoked something familiar in me, a vile brand of frustration I had forgotten. It was most likely a mix of things, but it felt patronizing. Like some sort of unimaginable indignity.

My opponent sprung off of his toes and charged towards me. Before I could really grasp everything, my body reacted and I could feel cold sweat and the squishiness of love handles in my hands. I quickly twisted to the side and thrust my arms forward, flinging his body off of the mat and slamming into a nearby wall. Hard.

Takayama just stared at us, his eyes switching between me, his pupil, and the sumo-sized crater in the wall.

Ayako giggled. "I meant it when I told you not to underestimate him, see?"

Takayama's nose twitched at that. He turned back toward his students who sat side by side, cross legged and suddenly very unsure of themselves.

"Nakanohara-kun!"

A guy bigger than the last flinched at the sound of his name and silently made his way to the mat, taking the usual position.

The match started and we went through most of what the last one consisted of; him doing vertical splits and tapping the ground while I thought about whether or not they'd send out anybody more attractive. I mean, I wouldn't go for any of these guys, but if I'm gonna be grabbing onto someone I might as well enjoy it.

At least Ayako was there. I thought she was pretty cute.

Nakanohara and I began circling the mat, and in a few moments he came towards me. I could see the way his arms moved, he was gonna try grabbing me, so I went lower and charged ahead. Before he could grab me I rammed directly into him, slamming against his chest with my weight and quickly shoving him out of the ring and onto the floor.

Takayama's eyes widened with fury and he looked at his remaining students.

I looked towards Ayako, who covered the smirk on her face while I chuckled to myself.

One Hour Later

"Are you sure that was necessary?" Ayako said, her tone gentle and worried.

"Eh... They were askin' for it in my opinion. Besides this is the kinda stuff they live for, right? They'll walk it off."

"Just because I few of them were rude didn't mean you had to manhandle everybody in the dojo. You even made their master cry..."

Ayako looked up at me and I shrugged my shoulders in response.

She sighed. "It can't be helped I guess..."

By now the sun had set. Me and Ayako were making our way home and I was feeling pretty proud of myself. I'd let off a bit of steam back there, I genuinely feel bad for the innocent guys I hurt though. They all seemed young and some of them were really adorable. One of the guys even had the chubbiest cheeks, I swear...

"Hungry?" I said.

Ayako pondered a bit, stepping only on the rocks along the path we were taking. "I could go for some Ramen."

We took a bit of a detour toward a small plaza some blocks away from the mansion.

"Irasshaimase!" A chef standing behind a grill shouted, grinning warmly at me and Ayako as we entered.

We maneuvered through chairs and sat down at a booth near the glass towards the back of the shop. The smooth table lit up with the Mayflower Ramen Shop's name before displaying the menu and a small tab for checking your order's price under thick glass.

I stared at all the HD food pictures. "Woah. So you don't even gotta wait for anybody to come to you..."

I wish Ken was here to see this, he'd love it...

"This update is rather recent. The restaurant we're sitting in got these installed a year ago." Ayako swiftly placed an order and adjusted her purse. "This country has been really progressive with technology since the war's beginning. New phones every three months, eye scanning door locks on all the new houses, even pizza delivering drones that fly..."

"Just one of the perks of living in the First World, I bet."

I put in my order and we waited, gazing off silently as the sound of cooking and sugary, heart melting talk of young couples drifted around the quiet, cozy noodle shop.

"Thomas. What do you want for the future?"

I hesitated a bit. "Well, I wanna stop the war so everyone can be safe and clear our names up so me, Travis, and Kelly can live without hiding. Hopefully we can sort things with the governments out."

Ayako's face saddened and I could feel a strong seriousness emanating from her. "There's nothing to be sorted out, the world is at war and The Nexus possesses an unmatched military. They won't stop until they win, because now their goal is to destroy all opposing nations for the sake of global control."

I gawked at her. "... For real?"

"If the earth itself isn't destroyed by the war, The Nexus will enslave all of humanity under an unforgiving rulership. The situation is that serious now."

"But how are they gonna manage that? Citizens have the government outnumbered a thousand to one in America by itself. If they come out with some crap about a cruel dictatorship there's gonna be a massive revolt."

A young, buck toothed waiter came by with our order; a Bento, some Udon noodles, and Shrimp Tempura.

Ayako plucked a shrimp from my bowl and went on to explain. "Well for starters, by the end of this war the population will be drastically reduced, if not totally wiped out. That alone will make the public much more fearful and easy to control."

"True." I said, sipping some of the complimentary green tea.

"Besides that, they'll have more than brute force to rule the masses with. Take this table for example. It's a smart table used to order foods, but it does more than that. It's connected to the internet and is constantly sending and receiving data."

"So... It's picking up this conversation?"

Ayako smirked. "It should, and it would if it wasn't for this." She showed me her choker and turned over the glimmering Amber gemstone to reveal a tiny switch underneath. "This device disables electronic devices in a two meter range from transferring data, which is probably why that guy's phone isn't working..."

I looked through the glass in the same direction she was and saw a man scowling at his phone.

"I could feel his frustration from all the way in here..." Ayako muttered. "Things like this table are known as IOT, or the Internet Of Things. With IOT they'll be able to monitor everything from mundane conversations with friends to people shifting around in bed."

"That's terrifying."

"Not as terrifying as the Internet Of Everything. That's a phenomenon that merges technology with humans themselves."

"That's insane. With something like that, everyone will basically be a puppet! Wait." I froze. "Does that mean they can control us Transhumans?"

"No. Not our kind at least. Our abilities come from genetic and hormonal manipulation, not technological enhancements. There are Transhumans like us equipped with some deadly gadgets out there, though..."

I sighed in relief, staring blankly into my bowl of noodles while Ayako started on her Bento. "... How do you know all this stuff anyway?"

"My father's position in the First World allows me to access lots of information. I've had to sit in hundreds of confidential meetings discussing exactly this sort thing."

We sat there quietly for a while, eating as if that important discussion hadn't happened at all. Despite our efforts, how far we'd come, and all our training, everything still seemed to feel so artificial. Like some sort of cause people loved to rant and talk about but would never accomplish.

Just sitting there in a noodle shop, my gaze passing over a girl who's hair is naturally pink with the ability to sense people's emotions. It can be so hard to believe things in front of me sometimes, but all I've gotta do is look at the fading scars on my body to understand the validity of the life I would up with.

I really don't get it sometimes. Why... Just why me? All I really wanna do is play games and take a good nap. Why the actual fuck do I have to worry about a war I didn't even start?!

I felt like blaming everyone. Roscoe and Liza for lying to us, Travis for deciding to run, whoever runs the Divine Society for coming up with that load of bull.

Myself for beating the shit out of Joshua instead of just taking it like I always did.

Sure, everyone was watching, he talked about my parents, called Kelly a dyke, slapped me, and told me to kill myself. I could've handled it like I handled everything and everyone else. Travis decided to run away because he wanted to save me after I fucked up and did what I did, that's the only reason we met Roscoe or anything. I guess in reality I don't have the right to blame anyone.

A few giant tears rolled off of my nose and splashed into the soup of my Udon while I sat there resting my head on my hand.

Everything... Is my fault...

A soft hand touched mine and Ayako gently rubbed my knuckles with her thumb.

"Everything will be okay. It's true that we as a group are outnumbered by billions, and our enemies are strong, but that's okay because in spite of that we still have a fighting chance. Our power is special, and it can grow."

I ruined the lives of everyone. Carol's dead, Aletta's gone, Kario's gonna be in a hospital forever, and Fausto and Gina's lives'll never be the same again...

... E-Even Ken might wind up dead 'cause of me...

"... Ken."

"Hm?" Ayako replied.

"Ken... I think he's different too."

I'd suddenly thought that Ken might be hungry. So I wiped off my face and placed another order for some Bao since it's his favorite now.

"You two seem close." Ayako said.

"Not really." I said. "We just get along. He's fascinated by the stories I read and the shows I watch, and he likes the food I make. He says smart stuff sometimes too..."

Ayako sipped some tea of her own. "It's good to cherish the relationships you have with people, that applies to us especially. We'll have to have good chemistry if we're going make this goal of saving the planet work."

"Sure, I guess..."

The same guy came by with Ken's food packed to go a few silent minutes later.

"Just something for Ken, he get's hungry at night and I knew he likes this place so... Yeah."

I looked at her unfinished Bento and back at her again. Ayako didn't really seem to be eating much.

"Oh, you don't have to wait on me." She said, probably sensing that I wanted to leave. "I'll be fine, promise."

I was a bit reluctant at first, but I was honestly looking forward to seeing Ken again so I took her up on her offer. I left the shop and walked about ten minutes back to the Mansion. It was quiet when I entered, so I assumed most people's energy had went down and that everybody was either really chill at the moment or asleep.

I took the elevator up to the second level and searched for Ken's room. It was always really peaceful and quiet. He kept a lot of plants in there for some reason too.

"Ken. I brought you some food back. I made sure I got your favorite stuff..." After standing there for a few seconds it felt strangely unusual. Usually he'd open up immediately, or I would at least hear him coming to the door.

I pushed the door open to find it totally vacant. No comforters, no silky garments, no plants. Even Chompoo was missing.

I got worried for a second and remembered the last time I saw him at the training area. I began to remember that I didn't see him coming in with the rest of us. I knew for a fact he liked to be outside, he was more than likely still out late. It wouldn't be the first time, but even still, that wouldn't explain why all his stuff was missing.

I turned around and went downstairs, heading towards the back door. I passed by Travis on my way out, he was in the Kitchen.

"Hey. You see Ken anywhere?"

"No." He mumbled.

Sighing, I turned back around to head out.

"Is there a reason you guys spend so much time together lately?"

I paused at the tone in his voice. His attitude was nasty as hell for some reason, because he doesn't usually talk to anyone like that.

I shrugged my shoulders, my brows furrowed. "I mean, I guess we just get along."

"... He doesn't even talk that much..." Travis grumbled.

"Travis, he's from a freakin' rainforest, his social skills ain't gonna be all that. He's a good guy, can I be nice?"

Travis glared at me for a moment and I just walked off. I had no idea what the hell his problem was, he was always glaring at me and I kept catching him with dirty looks. Whatever it was I wasn't gonna deal with it.

Barely keeping my head together with the shit I got now...

I got outside I wandered all over Ayako's estate. He wasn't near the ponds, or the gardens, or tool sheds, or guest houses, or anything. He was always on the grass nearby or near a small hill. He liked to watch stars and really enjoyed moonlight, which was nice. It must've brought him some sort of peace after the days of planning, training, and worry of the future had ended.

I crossed the stone bridge we'd found him on.

"Ken!" I shouted, but there was no response.

I started to get worried. There was no way I could tell if he was okay or not. In moments I was beginning to slowly panic. I'd realized how his spending so much time outside could've given anybody an opportunity to take him. This was a First World country after all.

"KEN!"

I shouted again, more loudly. "It's me! Thomas!"

Oh, man... Please be okay little guy...

I felt a look of worry come over my face and started to feel really upset again. It didn't even have to be the Divine Society or the government. Ken is so small, how difficult would it be for some weirdo to take him?!

But Ken isn't weak. I didn't know exactly what it was, but I knew he had some sort of power and that he could protect himself. Still, I had no idea what could've happened or who he may or may not have met.

In my silent panic I noticed an odd clearing in the bamboo grove to the side. I'd passed over this bridge a lot of times and I knew for a fact that the bamboo around here was much... Thicker than what it was now.

Trusting my intuition, I went into the forest and followed the clearing. In mere moments of passing through I knew for sure that something unnatural made this happen, blank patches were in random spots all over.

"What the hell..."

A high pitched squeal startled me and I immediately looked down. Chompoo was there, and if there's anything I've learned about Chompoo it's that him and Ken are always close.

He ran off suddenly and I quickly followed. I honestly didn't know pigs could run so fast, much less a little one like Chompoo.

I heard a splash and froze in shock at what looked like a really well constructed bamboo fort built into the waterfall that used to be there. It wasn't huge, but it was still big. About the size of a large patio.

Chompoo swam across the pond and hopped onto the large stones leading into the green fort. I followed after him, hopping across the smooth rocks leading in the same direction. More than anything I was really curious about how this was done. These rocks looked like they weighed a literal ton, and as I got closer I could see the way the bamboo had been woven together. It was was amazing.

I entered and went around the waterfall, following the patterning of Chompoo's feet through a dark cavern towards an area lit by the moon's ray of light and flickering bright orange.

After I entered past the two torches I slowed to a stop and gazed around in awe. I was standing in a circular room of rock; there wasn't much of a roof, only enough to provide privacy should anybody pass by this on the surface.

There was even an elaborate fountain of sorts that ran practically everywhere. All along the walls and high in the air, water ran through the hollow stalks that rocked with the moisture's weight, quietly pouring from high above to the small, shallow bodies water flowing back outside like clear pillars that glimmered in the moonlight.

On the far end of this room I could see a bed of comforters.

"... Ken?"

Chompoo scampered towards the plushy cluster of warm linens and hopped inside as Ken climbed from behind it. I walked towards him, my head turned upwards at this wondrous construction.

"... What's all this?"

"I made a second home for myself."

I gave him the bag of food and I noticed his eyes lit up. He immediately leapt back into his nest of comfort and resumed whatever he was doing on a spare laptop he got ahold of.

"But how?"

Ken looked over me and sat quietly for a moment.

A wispy cyan glow appeared around him and the white, meat stuffed bun he'd pulled out of the bag I gave him floated across the distance between us and levitated in front of me until I plucked it from the air with my hands.

"Ken... You're Transhuman too?"

"No." He said. "I inherited this power through my lineage as a birthright. It's a natural part of me."

I stared blankly into the water pouring around me, trying to make sense of what that could possible mean.

How was this possible? As far as I knew, there were normal humans like Travis and Kelly, then there are Transhumans like Ayako and I that exist because of genetic manipulation by the Nexus. If Ken is neither of those, what is he?

"Don't rack your brain at this point, it helps nothing." Ken patted on an area for me to sit and I got over there almost instinctively. I'll never get over the way his voice sounds. It's so soothing and nice, almost hypnotic.

I could barely avert my eyes while he laid back and ate the Bao I bought him, he even gave one to Chompoo. His whole demeanor is so sexy. Ken's just calm and smug about everything, his head is clear and I can feel it, and the thing he does when he sorta loses it and goes all feral is so hot to me...

I love seeing the sweet relaxed look in his eyes when we talk, and the softness of his hair when we occasionally brush past each other, the things he says, even his choice of words is something I just can't get enough of.

I spoke. "Why do you always run off like this?"

Ken took a bite out of the last bun he had. "This isn't what I wanted."

"What do you mean?"

"When I left Tajora I wanted to learn more about the earth and other humans." He said. "I hate war, I hate conflict, and I don't want anything to do with this."

I could hardly understand why, but those words hurt me. It's not what he said, but maybe what I thought. Sure I hated this thing too, but I was glad to meet him. I guess a part of me was hoping he felt the same.

"I get it." I said, eating the last piece of my Bao. "I'm tired of fighting too. All of us are. None of us asked for this, but we're involved and we have to do what we can, or else there'll be nothing left."

He didn't say anything at all after that which made me uneasy. I know everything sucked, and I hoped he knew I really did get that and wasn't pissed at me. We sat there in silence for a while, just looking around. There wasn't anything to really be said.

"Wanna listen to-."

"Sure."

I sat quietly as he pulled up YouTube on the laptop and waited for me to log in and go to my playlist. I honestly was shocked he could get WIFI out here...

"How-."

"I posses precognitive abilities as well." He said.

Still unsure of how to feel about all this new stuff Ken told me about himself, I went on to type in my email and password.

"What happened to your wrists?"

I quickly looked down at my arms. The light from the screen was shining directly on all of my self inflicted scars.

Crap.

"Oh, those have always been there. I dunno exactly where they came from, though. Probably scratched em' while climbing a fence or somethin'."

"No they haven't." Ken said, his tone serious. "Those weren't there yesterday."

I sat there for a moment staring at my arms, unsure of what to say or how to explain anything to him. I wasn't gonna explain anything to him, I could've just played dumb and kept denying, but I knew Ken wasn't stupid and I respected him too much for that by that point.

"... People... It's just.." I kept freezing up. I had no idea what to say, I really didn't want him to know this kind of shit about me anyway. It's embarrassing and it makes me feel even more pathetic than I usually do.

Then again, it's not like I had many other options. I thought that maybe if I could express myself clearly without regret like he could, he'd respect me more.

"... They don't really like me." I hesitated. "Most all of my life people made me hate myself and I just wanted to a way out. I could never do it though, I-I was always too scared."

Ken stared blankly into my face as I did my best to avoid eye contact with him.

"But I was okay with it, because if I could take out everything on myself, I'd feel better. It's one of the only things I could ever really control..."

Ken didn't say anything. He sat there quietly gazing at the ground, then at my wrist. I finished logging in and played some music. The song was called Rainbow, by the Round Table and Nino.

"Te no hira no ue ni, sotto noseta"

(I quietly warm the gentleness that)

"Yasashisa wo, atatamete sotto..."

(Landed so softly atop the palm of my hand...)

I focused on the lyrics instead of Ken's face and relaxed my nerves. I could hardly believe I told him something like that, not even Travis or Kelly could get a confessional anywhere near as honest as that one.

Just then Ken touched my wrist, his eyes sorrowfully passing along my scars. He rubbed them with his finger.

"... I don't hate you..."

"Ki ni shinai, zutto soba ni iru kara."

(Because I'll be by your side forever.)

"Ikutsu mono niji, koete yukeru yo."

(We're good at crossing over the many rainbows)

"Futari de, over the rainbow."

(The two of us, over the rainbow.)

"Chiisana hikari, hoshi ni negai wo,"

(A small light, a wish upon a star,)

"Kanaete yo, kitto, aoi tori."

(They'll come true, surely, blue bird.)