"Activate the viewing screens." With a wave of Sakamaki's hands, four large screens appeared in the middle of the room. They connected to form a hollow cube and buzzed before showing a group of twelve playing with a ball in a clearing.

Kimiko felt her jaw drop. "That's..."

"You." Zanark nodded.

~~~~~

"Hey, not bad." Past Org said. "You're catching up real fast Kimmy!"

"Kiko!" The little girl pouted. "It's Kiko here!"

"Sorry, sorry. You're doing great, Kiko."

"Yeah. Keep it up, and you might steal Rastesu's spot as a regular." Past Goblis snickered.

The purple haired boy's head snapped to him. "What was that?!"

"Oh, now he's mad."

"Get back here and say that to my face!"

So he did. "She's gonna steal your spot if you're not careful!"

"Why you!"

"Boys..." Past Shinjami shook her head as she watched them chase each other around. Then, her gaze landed on the girl. "But say, you've taken a real liking to that name Zanark gave you, huh?"

A smile appeared. "Because Z names everyone in Zanark Domain, so since I get one, that means I'm part of the team too! I've never been on a team before! That makes it special!"

"Yeah, yeah, no need to get sappy." Past Zanark rolled his eyes before pointing west with his thumb. "The sun's setting. Shouldn't you start running home now?"

Her eyes widened. "Ah! Oh no! Papa's gonna be so worried! Sorry! See you tomorrow!" She bowed and ran off at full speed.

Past Yasha chuckled. "She's so cute. So innocent and pure, so oblivious to the real world outside this forest."

"Hey, Zanark." Past Shura said, walking up to him. "Is it really a good idea to let her keep visiting us like this? She's just a kid..."

"And it's not like she's really one of us, right?" Past Engir pointed out.

"She's part of our soccer team, but everything else we're doing..." Past Shuten had his arms crossed. "This scuffle we're having with El Dorado... It's too big for her."

"I thought you'd say that." He only leaned back on the seat of his bike. "That four-eyed uncle knows everything, and yet he still let's her hang around for who-knows-what reason. But as long as he's fine with it, I don't have a reason to keep her away either."

"Which means you like having her around." Past Gouzu said with a sigh.

"Well, I don't blame him. Kiko's adorable!"

"Coming from you, Yasha, that isn't really a compliment..."

"But she's also talented." Past Maze said. "Give it time, and she might grow to be our strongest player, only second to Zanark."

Past Rasetsu shot his leader a look. "That's what you're counting on, isn't it?"

He got a smirk in response. "That kid's already a splitting image of her mother. If she grows up to be just like her, then having her as one of us will be very interesting."

"... She's not taking my spot."

"Hells, you're actually scared?"

"Goblis!"

~~~~~

"Well, what do you know..." Taiyou muttered. "Zanark Domain is just like any other soccer team... Training and having fun and whatnot."

"No, I'm pretty sure most soccer teams don't go and have scuffles with a world management organization." Kariya pointed out.

"Well... yeah..."

Tsurugi ignored their extra comments, keeping his focus on the screen.

"She shouldn't go there..." His friend muttered from beside him.

"What?"

Her hand reached out to the screen. Her younger self was running down a dirt path. "I... I don't know why, but... she shouldn't. We have to―"

Her arm was caught by Rei Rukh. "We are here to witness history. Not to change it."

"B-But..."

"Think of it this way," Zanark spoke up, shooting her a look. "If you change anything that happened here, you could end up never meeting your precious best friend. Do you want that?"

Her eyes widened and she dropped her gaze. That was enough of an answer to them all.

"Sit tight and watch. The worst of it is yet to come."

~~~~~

The girl flung the door to the cottage open without hesitation.

"Papa! I'm back!" But her smile immediately dropped at the sight in front of her. "... Papa?"

"Oh? Who do we have here?"

A large man, holding a large blade in one hand, was lifting a more lanky brunette up in the air. The brunette's purple eyes widened behind his glasses at the sight of her.

"Kimmy..." He heaved. "K-Kimmy, run!"

Something inside the large man's ear blinked, making him smirk. "Your child, is she? That's quite a surprise. I didn't think one of El Dorado's chiefs would have a freak for a child."

"My daughter is not a―"

"Oh well. Looks like I can sell both you and her for quite the price."

~~~~~

"Rei Rukh." Sakamaki called.

"Analysis shows that he is a bounty hunter."

"Bounty hunter?" Tenma asked.

"They work for the underground network." The man said with his arms crossed. "They don't care about anything but money. This one must've thought he could fetch a high price by going after one of El Dorado's head scientists."

"Not only that, but he knows that she's an SSC." Saru pointed out, his expression turning grim. "There are some places down there that reward people for kidnapping us. The younger the child, the higher the reward, because it means that they'll have more years to serve under whoever they'll be sold to."

Every single jaw in the room dropped to the floor.

"That sort of system exist?!"

"How cruel..."

"It was also another reason why Feida was formed." Fei stated. "Saru found us before those bounty hunters could. And before we declared war on El Dorado, we actually went to save those who haven't been sold. Most of them grew violent tendencies because of that experience though..."

"So... Team Zan?"

Sangoku earned a nod.

~~~~~

The large man spun his blade loosely. "Maybe I should cut both your legs off to keep you from escaping."

The girl continued to take slow steps backwards, never blinking. "Papa..."

The blade was lifted,

"No!"

And swung.

The girl flinched, but didn't feel anything after that. Looking up, she spotted that the brunette was the one who fell.

"P-Papa?"

He had freed himself from his grip and shielded her.

"Papa! Papa! G-Get up! T-The scary man is still...!"

She made a move to run to the fallen, but was pushed back.

"Move!" Her father yelled. "Run! Run back to Zanark! Run and don't look back! Go far, far away and don't ever come back!"

Her eyes grew wide and tears gathered in the corner of her eyes. "B-B-But... Papa..."

The large man yawned. "Theatrics bore me." He stepped on the large gash on the brunette's back, keeping him down. "Well, you look just about dead, so I suppose I should just end your misery. At least that way, your precious child wouldn't have to suffer watching you bleed out, right?"

"Papa..."

Her father only kept his eyes on her. "Go!"

"Papa..."

"Say good night!"

The blade was lifted high into the air once again, but an energy pulse made him freeze.

The girl was burning with a dark aura.

"STAY AWAY FROM HIM!!!"

As she shrieked, the whole cottage was blown to pieces.

The dark aura receded and gathered on her back. Suddenly, a giant archer appeared.

"What?!"

It's bow aimed straight at him.

~~~~~

The whole room was silent as they watched. Not a single person could bring themselves to utter a word.

He could only tear his eyes away from the screen when he felt a particularly strong grip on his arm.

Her eyes were blank.

~~~~~

An engine's roar could be heard coming from further down the dirt path. A familiar bike appeared, but its driver had to quickly eject from his seat as a stray ball of energy came his way.

"Whoa... Close one." Past Zanark let out a chuckle before a half-annoyed expression appeared when he saw how badly damaged his ride was. "That's going to take a lot to repair."

The others of Past Zanark Domain appeared beside him.

"What happened here?"

"What's going on?"

"What is that?"

Past Zanark only raised an eyebrow at the giant going on a rampage. "A keshin?"

"Zanark..."

A voice came from a pile of rubble.

"Huh?" He squinted, but it only took him a second to figure out who was sprawled there. "Uncle!" He ran over and kneeled beside him, shaking him. "Hey! Wake up!"

The moment he opened his eyes, the brunette started heaving his pleads. "Save her... Please... Save Kimmy... Don't let... El Dorado get to her... but don't... give her to Feida either... take her with you... far away from here... far away from this timeline... to somewhere she can grow... and learn... and make plenty of friends... like any other child..."

His own eyes narrowed. "What are you saying?! Didn't you swear to that woman that you'd take care of her?!"

He got a pained chuckle in response. "That's right... I promised Kia... I promised I'd save her... I promised to keep her safe for as long as I can... but I can't anymore..." The man gave a sad smile as his bloodstained hand went to his shoulder. "Zanark... she's in your hands..."

"Hey! Don't you dare!"

"I'm... sorry..." Purple eyes closed behind shattered glass, the hand leaving a trail of blood as it slipped off.

"Damn it...!"

"Zanark..."

He swatted away Shuten's hand before it could reach him. He stood up and narrowed his eyes on the wild avatar. "Spread out! Report back on the first sign of trespassers. I'll handle the kid."

The other ten immediately nodded, "Roger!" And got to work.

"Now then..." Past Zanark lifted a finger into the air. "Come out! Makaiou Zodiac!"

As if sensing the presence of another one just like it, the archer aimed his bow at him instead. He dodged the arrows easily, getting close in a matter of seconds. Soon, he was able to use his claw-like wings to pin the archer down.

"I knew you had this kind of power in you. It's exactly the same as mine."

Had it been under any other circumstances, he would be smirking proudly. Instead, here, he growled, glaring up at the archer.

"But as you are now, you'd break sooner than master it... In that case!"

He let out his own war cry, a laser shooting out of his mouth and into the sky. It then fell straight down on her, making her glow in a green light. Her hair changed to a minty green color, her skin becoming more tanned. Her power began to decrease, and with a single slash from his claws, the archer was gone. His eyes glowed blue and the change was gone.

"That should keep it from coming out again for a while. At least, until you really need it." He caught the girl before she could collapse, lifting her over his shoulder before his gaze landed on another man. "Hm?"

The man was quivering under his gaze. He didn't look like he could speak.

Fortunately, he didn't need him to.

The blade beside him was explanation enough.

"I see... You're the one that caused all this."

The large man's eyes widened as he scurried back. "H-Huh? N-No! I-I-I was... I-I'm just...!"

"Disappear."

He activated his sphere device, a deep voice saying "Lock-In Mode" before sucking the man and his blade into it.

"Zanark." At that moment, his team reappeared behind him. Past Engir was the one who spoke. "Military officers are approaching fast."

"We have to move. Now." Past Maze urged.

For a moment, he stood still, staring at the girl he's carrying.

"Zanark!"

"I heard you." He turned back to them with a grunt. "Then, any ideas on where to go? Somewhere even the old farts at El Dorado couldn't reach."

"Huh?" Past Gouzu finally noticed her. "...Ah."

"That's impossible..." Past Shura said bitterly. "El Dorado has eyes and ears everywhere. No matter where we go, she'll never be safe."

"No. There's a way." The hand that was keeping her stable on his shoulder started glowing.

"What are you―"

"Listen up!" He cut Past Goblis off. "From this moment on, this kid does not exist. Understand?" He handed her over for Shinjami to carry. "Take her somewhere far from here. To a time even before El Dorado came around." He looked up to the sky in thought.

~~~~~

"I-Is he looking at us?" Hayami asked.

Zanark only smirked, his past self mimicking his expression.

~~~~~

"Hmm... maybe 200 years in the past will do."

"Erasing her memories, huh..." Past Shinjami nodded, ruffling the little girl's hair gently. "Guess that's for the best."

"What happens if we see her again someday?" Past Shuten asked.

"In the tiniest chance we run into each other again, I'll leave the bare minimum of her memories intact. It'll be easier to take her back that way."

"Such as?"

"Names and faces. All insignificant information to be kept in the back of her head. She won't even realize she has them." His hand then glowed a different color, hovering it over her. "This is also going to suppress her powers. With this, El Dorado wouldn't catch on so easily. After all, once they know, there's no turning back."

~~~~~

"That line..."

~~~~~

"200 years in the past, huh..." Past Rasetsu gave a small nod. "If I recall, it was around then that keshin users started appearing."

"Maybe we can get her to a soccer family." Past Yasha giggled. "At least that way, she can grow stronger and eventually learn to control those powers."

"Then, what will you do?" Past Engir only got a smirk in response, but he seemed to understand its meaning well. "Forget I asked."

"How long should we wait?" Past Shuten asked.

"Give it a year or so. I want to enjoy every second I spend there."

"Be careful, captain." Past Shura warned.

"I won't."

The ten disappeared along with the girl, and at that exact same moment, tanks appeared.

An officer came out, holding a megaphone, while many others surrounded him with guns. "Zanark Avalonic! You are under arrest for trespassing, theft, obstruction of peace in the timelines, destruction of―"

"Yeah, yeah. The list is long, you don't have to mention it all."

"I'm surprised you're not raising any objections."

"I thought you'd say that. Unfortunately, I have none today." He stuck his wrists together, making it easier for them to place handcuffs on him. "Take good care of me then, officer."

~~~~~

When they returned, the blonde was first to hop out of the time machine, speed-walking to the entrance of the stadium.

"Kimiko!"

She stopped at her cousin's call, giving him a look.

Zanark smirked. "You don't look like you regret finding out."

She clicked her tongue. "I don't... I just need some time to process it all."

"Kimiko..."

She avoided her brother's reach.

"Sorry. I want to think alone for a while."

She spun on her heel and disappeared.