Renascence

O

I'll be there for You

O

"You're a lot better at this than I am."

"Don't make fun of me," Ichiko pouted, holding a small ball of metal in the palm of her left hand, the markings continuing to shift like waves against a shore.

"No," Yumemi insisted "You learned a lot faster than I did. You already duplicated a substance using Akuto."

Ichiko swallowed hard staring at the ball in her hand. She hadn't thought stuff like this was possible, and the more she used the "Akuto" the more her markings seemed to spread. However, when she wasn't using "Akuto," the markings seemed to fade under her skin. That was a plus.

They were both sitting on Yumemi's bed, Suzume rolling around in a chair at the end of her bed. "I'm trying," Suzume pouted "But I can't do anything!"

Yumemi giggled a little. "Nothing's activated your Akuto abilities yet, if you have any. I'm still wondering what activated Ichiko's."

When she turned to look at her, Ichiko shrugged and stated "Yeah, I wonder too." She knew it had something to do with Yumemi, but she wouldn't say that, not until she knew how to use this ability.

"Anyway, I think that's enough for tonight."

Ichiko squinted at her. "Whaaat, we just got started."

Yumemi winked at her, waggling her finger. "You'll get tired quick, believe me."

"No I won't," Ichiko insisted. "Come on, at least tell me how to replicate other stuff."

"The same way you did that," Yumemi replied pointedly. "You have to channel your desire – that which you want to make real, make substantial."

Ichiko have her a flat look.

She sighed suddenly. "Here, wait a moment." She held out her right hand, the hand not hurt by Gntarl's sword, and she stiffened, tensing up. The lights in the room seemed to shudder, flickering, the room itself groaning. She started talking, but her voice was hoarse. "What I need is something strong," she whispered "woven from Akuto so powerful no other could destroy it – strong, and flexible, it needs to wrap around and protect." Her hand started to flicker with light as she started to shiver, and she said louder, one last time "I need it to protect," before the light in her hands seemed to suddenly pop, spreading around and up her hand. It darkened like hot metal cooling, and when it did a shimmering glove was over Yumemi's hand. Every thread looked metallic, but it bent as easily as string.

She pulled it off, and handed it to Ichiko, breathless. "Here."

Ichiko took it gingerly, blinking. "Eh?"

"To cover up your hand. I know you're self conscious, and it won't be damaged by Akuto of any sort." Ichiko slid the glove on, and it was soft, but skin tight. It seemed seamless against her skin.

"Thank you," she responded quietly, and felt even more thankful when she saw Yumemi's hand digging so hard into her shoulder that blood was spotting under her fingernails. "Hey-"

"I'll be alright. But I think we all need sleep." Ichiko agreed, and they bid one another goodnight.

"Tomorrow?" Ichiko asked, glancing back at her friend, lying in bed.

"Tomorrow too," Yumemi laughed breathily.

OOOOO

Munto was holding the armor Yumemi made. It was strong. It had her scent all over it, strewn across it and embedded in its being.

"King Munto!" He dragged his gaze up to Rui, who looked breathless and pale. "Gntarl's moving his largest battalion ship!"

Anger swam up and down Munto's sight for a moment while he snarled "That bastard's still alive?"

"Yessir," Rui stated, rushing up to the throne "and it looks like his doing something big. We wouldn't have noticed it if a few of our men weren't looking around where the Angel fell, but…"

Munto's golden eyes narrowed. "How big?"

Rui swallowed three times before answering, and even then his voice cracked from dryness.

Munto exploded out the door faster than lightening; the only word distinguishable from the slur of curses was his yelling "Gntarl!"

Rui gathered the remaining forces, and they followed him as best they could. Laguna couldn't follow, and for that she was truly miserable. She would have dearly relished destroying the worm Gntarl was again if it wasn't for the stomach wound she had sustained from his other sword, so she was confined to the medical area while they patched her up. She prayed to the Gods that her General, Rui, may strike with her hand while she was out.

Oh, how she wished the Angel was still here.

OOOOO

The figure stared at the blue sleeping form of the girl of Destiny. He wondered what color her eyes really were, or the color of her skin, or hair. He could only see her spirit energy, and the sliced wound through her shoulder.

Black eyes narrowed as he stared through the void, looking through one of the more reliable tears in time space. That wound was trouble-some…

He darted around, like black ink in water, looking for a closer tear, there! A medium sized tear, but it was right above the girl's bed. He could probably slither an arm through there to heal her wound since she hadn't the idea yet of healing it herself.

His arm, white as paper, and his hands, with his long fingers played out like an insect, reached through the tear, and the veil threatened to rip his limb to pieces.

Akuto, that of the first world, flowed through him as he pulled the spirit-flesh together, knitting it like carefully woven cloth. He could see the tension in the girl's face lessen as he did so, the glowing white spirit blood stop flowing. The girl would be healed completely in another moment or so, and his plans would continue uninterrupted-

OOOOO

Chikara screamed, as if the house was on fire, and Yumemi's eyes snapped open.

OOOOO

-well, that ends that, he thought tartly as the figure pulled himself violently back through the veil. "Next time," he stated with a twisted and bitter smile "that boy will wake with my hand on his throat."

OOOOO

Yumemi sat up, surprised at the lack of pain in her shoulder as she did so, but she only saw something like a shadow of something dark evaporate into nothingness. It must've been her eyes adjusting. She turned to Chikara, who had fallen off of his bed, and he stuttered out "There was a hand! Right above your bed, like it was reaching through!"

He must've been having a nightmare. "What color was it," she yawned, rubbing her eyes. "Was it long?"

"Yeah, really white and long! With long fingers, and a black looking cloak!"

Her eyes snapped open. "What?"

"I'm not lying," he replied angrily, and she shook her head.

"No, I believe you, but you said it had long fingers and a black cloak?" He nodded, and she put a hand to her forehead.

How did Gntarl find her? That must've been him; she didn't know anyone else with long white fingers and a black cloak. She thanked God that Chikara had woken up and stopped him from kidnapping her, right from her bed.

She needed something to stop him from getting to her, but what?

An idea came to mind, and for once she found she was determined and unafraid.

OOOOO

Ichiko blinked, fury building up in her. "Right above your bed? That creepy bastard!"

Suzume nodded, looking over to Yumemi. "That sounds scary."

Yumemi had met up with them in the park, over-hanging trees ensuring nothing would snatch her from above. "Yes, but I have an idea. If we all try, maybe we can make something like a shield."

"A shield?" Ichiko questioned, her gloved hand on her face.

"Yes, Dulahan had a rune-shied around the temple we were in. We could try and make something like that!"

"How?"

Yumemi rubbed shoulder through habit, gesturing with her other hand. "If we think of the same concept at the same time, we might be able to make such a thing!"

"I still don't get it," Ichiko admitted "But I'll try."

They all linked hands, and although Suzume seemed to have no abilities, she too tried to help. They focused, Akuto heating up their hands, and for a moment they could feel the other's heartbeats. Their minds linked for a moment, all thinking the same thing. "Protection," they thought at once. "A shield, to protect us all."

Something warm blossomed over their palms and up their forms, and a moment later when the dull thud of their equally beating hearts went silent, they all opened their eyes.

Yumemi could see it clearly. It was almost like a shell over each of their features, and looking she found they were different colors. Ichiko's was greenish, like the marshes, and Suzume's was yellow. Yumemi looked down at her hand, and saw the shell like structure was blue, like her Akuto.

Ichiko could see it, but differently. She saw the edges of their forms shimmering, and steaming, like something hot and metallic but clear was on their skin. She blinked and rubbed her eyes, seeing the blue tint on Yumemi.

Suzume saw nothing, but she could feel it, peripherally, like something was flashing behind her eyes.

"Did it work?" Ichiko asked uncertainly.

"I… think so?" Yumemi flexed her fingers and reached out to touch the tree. She could still feel the rough bark, but the shell-like shield was still in place.

"What happened?" Suzume asked innocently, looking between them.

"I think," Yumemi theorized, feeling the frozen grass under them "our Akuto is stronger when we're all together. I never made anything like this when it was just me, all I made was armor. This is different. It's a lot stronger." Looking around, no one else in the park noticed anything. "We're the only ones who can see it."

"Well, as long as it worked," Ichiko stated, sighing. "That was so weird feeling."

OOOOO

"What do you mean you've lost them, we had our sights on them at all times!" Gntarl was almost foaming at the mouth while the soldier frantically searched.

"Look, whenever we get near the vicinity of where they should be the footage just…" The screen blurred, like a bright light was shining on it. "…we can't see them."

Gntarl pounded the console near him. This was unacceptable. Tomorrow they were supposed to be taking her, and now they couldn't even differentiate her from anything else in the area. "Replay old footage," Gntarl commanded "Try to retrace her steps, and figure out what she did."

"Commander Gntarl!"

He spun around – his temper was not a mild one today – and he practically snarled "What is it?"

"King Munto has been spotted in the area, with a significant amount of soldiers!" Gntarl grunted, turning around.

"Drive us into the clouds," he commanded "and bring us up higher in altitude. Let's not let our plans be revealed."

The last thing he needed was a furious King Munto attacking his ship, not when they were so close. "Dispatch a team of mechanical soldiers to bring up our rear, but put us at a higher acceleration afterwards. We don't need Munto following the Mechs like a trail."

He saw the head of crimson hair only seconds before his ship staggered.

OOOOO

Yumemi felt it the moment she woke up. Her body ached, like a distant throb. She feverishly thought "Is Munto alright?" but the thought was a wisp, and moments after she thought about it, the pain left, and the thought dissipated. She heard her friends outside her window before she pulled the curtains back, and seeing their faces made hers pull up in a smile.

Today, hopefully, might just be peaceful.

OOOOO

Lieca, a woman with wrapped white hair like twin horns, attempted to steer ship and crew from the enemy ship. It was when her ship was rattled by the last hit that she got the message. It was from General Rui, and he looked like living anguish. The footage was horrible, and one half of his face was streaked with blood, a few snow-blue locks of hair drenched. Bruises were forming up over his nose, and she saw droplets of blood roll down the edges of his mouth. The audio was just as bad as the footage, and she had trouble hearing it over the gunfire outside. "ffzzt – Gntarl's a madman – ffzzt –ttempting to do something with th – ffzzzt – ower world, and we need back up," she saw him spin around and mutter and obscenity. "Ah hells-" and the footage cut.

"Ah hells indeed," she muttered. She turned to her crew. "We're going to help Munto."

"Won't we just be concentrating enemy fire on Munto?"

A small smile pulled up her porcelain features. "Not at all."

OOOOO

Yumemi looked up from Ichiko talking to Suzume and her "Husband," and wasn't that like an explosion? No, it couldn't be. Ichiko prodded her towards another ride, and as fun as she felt, something felt wrong behind her eyes, like catching words from another room. Her hands ached.

"Not feeling good?" Ichiko asked, tugging her glove up higher on her wrist. "Don't worry, we'll have lunch soon."

OOOOO

"Munto," Rui called out "stop!"

The mechanical soldiers around him exploded, but he too was badly hurt. He staggered, and Rui was by his side in an instant. His eye was damaged from shrapnel, his right arm had a fracture, and the knuckles in both his hands were shattered. Munto was breathing heavily, and he once again pushed himself to continue fighting.

Rui followed obediently, but he hoped he wouldn't see the destruction of the last King.

"Look." Munto's voice was hoarse. As Rui panned the sky, he saw Gntarl's ship descending pillars. "That madman is going to pull up the entire section of land to get Yumemi." Rui could feel Munto get angry, as the air prickled with unreleased Akuto. He didn't say anything then, only howled in rage as he attacked the first pillar that started to come down.

Rui's jaw went slack as Leica's empty ship crashed into Gntarl's in an attempt to stop the talons from hooking into the earth.

OOOOO

Yumemi dropped her food. "Oh no," she whispered. She stood up, scanning the sky. "What is this?" Ichiko looked up at her, and then the sky. Her breath hitched.

The sky was covered in something, but it was blurry. Why hadn't she noticed it before?

Yumemi spotted something, and she saw the panic paint across her best friend's features as she screamed "NO!" Yumemi threw herself forward and Ichiko could feel the tingle of that energy, Akuto, in the air.

"Yumemi, what're you-"

And the ground exploded.

The wind tunneled around them, like there was a blockade, and Ichiko realized then it was Yumemi. She was putting up a shield to stop the debris. She scrambled over to her friend and put an arm around her hip, holding up her left hand lending what she could. "I don't know how this works," she thought to herself "but Akuto, I need you to help me protect Yumemi and Suzume. I need a shield. Make a stronger shield, right now!"

The students would mark the day they saw Hikada and Ono side by side as the winds bypassed them, something shimmering stopping the winds.

"It's Gntarl," Yumemi rasped aloud when the grounds shook once more and the dust cleared. "If he's pressing the veil, then-" she turned to the other students, who stared at her in awe. Ichiko saw her become sturdy then, her thoughts calculating. She spun around, and screamed as loud as Ichiko had ever heard her "DU – LA – HAAAN!"

OOOOO

A thousand miles away, the last Akuto Guardian unfurls his wings at the calling of his mistress.

OOOOO

Munto pounds at the pillars, not stopping for a second, his fists mangled and his body screaming for relief. Lieca's ship damaged Gntarl's, but not enough. He doesn't stop, not for a moment, not until the turrets on the ship fire at him so violently that they blast him against a cliff. He rasps for breath – he's so tired – and he sees Yumemi in his mind's eye, screaming for something. His energy isn't renewed, but he pushes on, the image of her screaming out for help from someone igniting a feeling of possessiveness like he's never felt before.

He has to protect Yumemi.

His fists hit the stone pillar once more, energy blossoming from his fingers.

OOOOO

At first, its only sound, like tarps flapping in the wind.

Then the ground rumbles as they all see it – something huge, towering in height, with wings. It's only a shimmering image, and it fades in and out without warning, but they can see flashes of silver and massive hands with claws, leathery wings and a sapphire face.

"Dulahan!" Yumemi is suddenly picked up by the creature, and it rumbles, and the students step back. Ichiko can't believe this was the creature she was talking about. They don't move for a moment, her arms around his head and a deep, dulcet, purring noise filling up the noise. When they part, Yumemi's orders are exact. "These are my friends," and she gestures to Ichiko and Suzume. "You make sure they're safe, along with the other students, alright?" It nods; they see the massive sapphire head twist towards them. The world warps around this creature, and everyone shrinks from the alien feelings.

All except Suzume. She walks up to it and tugs on its wing. It glances down to her, and with a gargantuan hand, it gently pats her head. She smiles.

The students are no longer afraid.

OOOOO

Gass fights relentlessly against Volgooze, the feelers that would extract his Akuto trailing him like eager snakes. He's exhausted from fighting this monster – he doubts anyone wouldn't be – and the last thoughts he has before the feelers dig into his scalp is Irita and the fresh spicy scent he smelled what seemed to be so long ago.

OOOOO

Yumemi is off like a shot, Dulahan holding Ichiko back. That was how it should be, Ichiko needed to be safe for Yumemi to function properly. She would pursue her, but Suzume would stay, she didn't need to worry about her as much.

Running up the steps with bare feet, she feels oddly reminiscent of the time she walked up to the water mirror with Ryueli, the grit under her feet just as real, the Akuto in the air just as sharp.

Yumemi can feel Munto around here somewhere – his essence is like a pressure on her mind, and she needs only to follow it to find him. Running up the steps, she finds a fallen Ferris wheel, toppled over on its side. There's no one inside, and for that's she's thankful.

There, she thinks slowly is where my Munto is.

OOOOO

"Ya' stupid tinman- Let me go!" Ichiko beat her hands against the figure of Dulahan, his ethereal figure shaking its head. "Alright, alright," she stepped back, putting her hands against her head. "Let's do this logically. Can you see the shields we have on?" It hesitated, and she can see its massive head nodded yes. "Will these protect us?" It nods once more.

"Then we're safe, 'kay thanks bye!" She darts under his arm, Suzume in tow, and keeps running. It doesn't pursue her, only looks towards her once before tending to the other students.

"Alright Suzume, don't trip." She looks up the path, where Yumemi went. "We have to help her."

Suzume nods, pulling Yumemi's medicine purse up on her shoulder, and they start running together.

OOOOO

Munto's eyes are closed.

He was breathing deeply, every breath a gaping gasp as he attempts to even his lungs out. Everything aches. There are lights behind his eyes, like those glittering lights his father would make when he was a child. His hands have lost all feeling, and numbness is steadily traveling up his legs and arms. He knows the moment his heart goes numb, he won't be able to open his eyes.

He's holding the glittering lights in his hands, his father's voice behind him, telling him not to touch it and get burned. "Don't get too close," his father warns.

The world is spinning, and he's spinning down.

"Don't get too close," his mother warns.

Everything's dancing into darkness.

"MUNTO!"

And everything snaps into painful clarity.

He can sense her, Yumemi, just behind him and beyond. His men were right; she was an Angel from above. Her concern for him drives him, and his heart that was moments ago beginning to falter is beating fiercely.

"Munto-"

"-Don't come close." He doesn't want her getting hurt; he can't have her getting too close. His hands are once again throbbing, his legs like lead and burning.

"Munto…" Her voice is a whisper, but his entire being is focused on her, even if he can't see her.

He says what he doesn't want to say. "Go away, Yumemi." Please stay with me. "I don't need your power anymore." I need your help. "I don't need you anymore." I need you.

"Liar!"

Her accusatory voice is both exactly what he was hoping she wouldn't do and a massive relief.

"I know you're lying because I was there, Munto. I saw the war, I was in the war, I was fighting in the war! I know your hands hurt-" and he lifts his hands into fists at chest height "-because I can feel them. I know you're tired, because I can feel it. I can feel it with every fiber of my being. I feel you with every fragment of my soul, and you're the one who asked for my help." He stiffens, staring into the dust ahead of him but the image of her calling out to him so fresh in his mind. "You were the one who told me I could do it, that you needed my power. I have power Munto, I have strength. I want to help you." Her voice lowers, and almost imperceptibly he hears her. "I need to help Suzume and Ichiko. I need to protect them. I need to protect you."

His heart leaps into his throat.

"Munto, please," and her voice breaks out into a half sob that almost shatters his resolve "answer me!"

"Yumemi!"

OOOOO

"Please," Ichiko pleads "wait for me. I'm coming, Yumemi, just- wait, please."

Yumemi is looking at her with those aqua eyes, and they're focused on her and her alone. "Ichiko…"

"Wait for me," she pleads as she steps onto the metal frame of the Ferris wheel. "Wait for us."

Yumemi shakes her head. "I… I don't want you getting hurt."

Ichiko's jaw tightens, and she calls out "Don't leave me behind!" Yumemi's face snaps up, blinking. "Don't leave me behind, looking up at that sky. You're always running ahead of me-" she grunts, inching along the edge of the Ferris wheel "-and I'm strong now. You taught me how to be strong! Please – I don't want you hurting either. I need to protect you, and if you go up there without me, I-I can't. Don't leave without me." Ichiko curls over, and she feels something hot pooling behind her eyes. "Please."

"When I get back," Yumemi replies, her voice soft "I was thinking we could use our paychecks to buy some cute shirts I found online. I found a really great one – I think you'd like it."

"Yumemi…" Ichiko isn't fighting the tears, but they're still pouring more, down her cheeks.

"I need to open up a future where you're safe," Yumemi said quietly, her voice almost trembling. "I need you to give me the chance to protect you, Ichiko, Suzume. I need you to believe in me."

OOOOO

He doesn't know when he stood up. "I need to open up the future, hmn? I can believe in you." Munto turns around to speak to Yumemi, but just then the earth under them shudders.

Her friends, Ichiko and Suzume, go flying off of the Ferris wheel. He's about to blast off of the balls of his feet to catch them, but half-way through the air, he finds that unnecessary.

A figure, with hair that pours like white milk and a body glowing sky blue, catches them both in her arms. She's flying. She slides them into the care of Dulahan, as though he was summoned by the spirit form of his mistress, his flickering form pressing the veil just as Gntarl's ship is, and when Yumemi turns around, she flies through the air straight at him, her arms open.

He opens his arms, and they collide.

Munto feels every ache vanish, every pain melt away.

Yumemi feels the throbbing of her spirit wound diminish; the remaining injuries from the car accident seal up.

The world explodes with energy.

OOOOO

Ichiko can't believe it, but its right there.

Yumemi and that Munto guy, together, surrounded by light as the ship that would call upon their destruction crumbles to pieces, the pillars shattering and the ship itself trembling in fear.

It's like a faerie tale.

And yet, there's something she must do, at all costs. She whispers to Dulahan that which she wishes, and he complies, with Suzume as well.

OOOOO

Yumemi doesn't know when they're soaring through the air, but they are, arms wrapped around each other. Munto is speaking as they go up into the heavens. "We still have to open up a new future," he explains, and she's nodding her head against the wind, her hair once again wheat blonde and her form solid flesh.

She hears it, from underneath her.

"Can you fly any faster? I need to get close enough to hit Munto with my shoe!"

Munto and Yumemi look at each other, before glancing below them.

Ichiko has her legs wrapped around the neck of Dulahan, and he's holding Suzume. "Heeey!" She calls out, through the wind. "You can't leave us behind!"

And all at once, Yumemi is crying tears of joy, because no, she couldn't. She needs to protect them, at all costs. She was foolish to think she could leave them behind, when they work so perfectly together. Munto stares at her face; Yumemi is changed. She's grown so much since he last saw her. She's been through so many trials.

She looks up at him, and for a moment, they simply stare at one another. They're back where they began, gold on aqua. Munto squeezes her closer, and her fingers interlock behind his neck.

A shoe hits Munto, square in his face. Yumemi catches it in her lap.

"Don't get any funny ideas, you ass!" Ichiko screams, waving her other shoe. Munto scowls at her – how dare she treat a King like this! – but he see's Yumemi's soft smile, and forgives instantly.

They emerge in the world above, and there's war.

Munto blasts the mechanical soldier's back, and he finds himself surprised when Yumemi does the same. Her friend, Ichiko, uses a different kind of Akuto, and when she tries to mimic it, the mechanisms almost disintegrate. Hers is the magic of Time and Space. Munto keeps that in mind as he turns around, and shows Yumemi the portal they've created.

OOOOO

Miles away, Gass' eyes snap open. Spice and Fresh greens.

Once again, he fights, his hands trying to tear away the feelers in his scalp.

OOOOO

Rui can see Munto, and the Angel, and Dulahan with two others. He rushes toward Munto, smelling spice and fresh greens, but he pushes it to the back of his mind. "King Munto, Girl of Destiny, or, Angel maybe?" She smiles at him bashfully, and the remaining groups thank her.

"Here," Munto tries to hand her to one of the other men, but suddenly the world snaps and she's glowing blue and hovering next to him. Rui can see a seam in her Spirit form where she was stabbed by Gntarl. "You can fly now, hmn?" Munto asks, almost teasingly, and she smiles softly.

"I can fly for you," she answers steadily, and after a moment of silence Rui clears his throat.

"If that's the case, our healer can take your princess friends, the small one at least, to safety. But miss angel, you must follow us; we can't have you getting hurt."

"My name is Yumemi," she replies "and don't worry. I won't get hurt."

As Rui turns around, leading the healer to pick up the smaller of her princess friends he sees Ichiko.

His breath hitches looking at her. Spice and fresh greens. She turns to him, her burning tiger's eyes meeting his, and he swallows thickly. "And your name might be," he offers, a hand out. She suddenly looks to the side, almost awkwardly, her hand meeting his. She's wearing a glove. "…Ichiko."

"It's a good name."

The healer takes Princess Suzume, and the Akuto giant carries the beautiful Ichiko. Yumemi soars beside them, a white bullet in the air.

Rui still hasn't calmed the frantic beating of his heart. "I'm in love," he thinks to himself dreamily.

OOOOO

Yumemi spins around, propelling herself backwards through the air, and fires a few shots at pursuing targets. When Dulahan waivers following the healer, she yells "Keep going!" and he obeys.

Looking around, she spots a small group hiding behind a device from shooters. "Princess Yumemi," Rui warns, but she ignores him and is speeding through the air. She wishes she could enjoy flying more, as she's never done it independently, and even now it feels like it's not just her, but she has to help those people. Flying over head she fires white-hot energy blasts, blowing up the mechanic drones.

She sees a woman with white hair, bound like twin horns stare at her in awe. Nodding, she spins back around in battle, continuing to fight.

OOOOO

Ichiko swears to herself. "Hey, Big McLarge-huge!"

The healer holding Suzume goes wide eyed and turns around. "Make sure Suzume gets somewhere safe – She can't use Akuto." He understands. Her comrade is behind, and Ichiko will not leave one of her own behind. He continues, and she tugs on Dulahan's face.

"Sparkly, we need to go back and help Munto. Once he's out of danger, Yumemi will follow along." He nods – because she's right and the sooner his Lady is out of trouble the better – and he makes a hairpin turn, and it takes all of Ichiko's thigh strength to keep on. They soar right past Yumemi, who looks like she's about to pursue them, but they continue.

They do not see her get fired square in the back.

OOOOO

Her shield dissolves, and to protect her Spirit form, Yumemi falls from the air with flesh and blood. Her body itself cannot fly, only when converted into Spirit form can she fly. She doesn't make a noise as she falls, but she holds her hands out – and she feels it – feels him.

"Munto," she calls. His mind is with her.

"Yumemi."

Her heart is calmed almost instantly. She can do anything if Munto is by her side. "Don't worry Munto, I won't give up." Her spirit form syncs with her flesh form, and Akuto emits from her body brighter than the sun.

"I want them to be safe."

OOOOO

The bonds around Munto from Volgooze melt away, and he can see Yumemi there, the source of all this energy in the air. Volgooze fires a shot at him, but Munto backhand's it straight into his face, and shatters his mask. His face is molten energy, his hair tendrils of flame.

From behind him, a hand clamps onto Volgooze's neck.

OOOOO

Ichiko congratulates Yumemi under her breath. Of course her best friend would be the one to take out nearly all the baddies.

As she approaches Munto on Dulahan, she sees him, a creature that looks like clay and fire, and one other, holding the molten creature. The one holding the creature is tall and tan, with dark russet hair.

He has the same markings as she does!

For some reason, she feels like she recognizes him from somewhere, the same way she thought about that Rui guy. Maybe she could try and talk to him about figuring out how to use these symbols correctly-

The clay beast pierces the familiar stranger with spikes straight through his body.

Fury like none she's every known boils through her body. She yells as she tears off her glove, shoving it in her pocket, and as the Akuto heats up her hands, only one thought comes to mind.

"I want to kill that abomination!"

OOOOO

The next thing Gass see's is time energy, like his very own, shoot through the air and explode Volgooze's body in half. It screams, and inclining his head, he sees a girl.

She's riding the Akuto beast, with her left arm out, covered in the markings of time and space. The sleeve of her coat is gone, torn away by the power she possesses. The markings are up her face, and she looks like the embodiment of rage. She fires off another energy blast, one after another as she howls in anger, and it dissolves the part of his body she lopped off earlier.

She's chaos personified.

The guardian stops just next to Gass, his hand still around Volgooze's neck. Her voice is strong. "How do we kill this bastard?" She smells like spice and fresh greens. Gass feels his throat go dry.

"I would need both my arms to send him into a time-space pocket without me, that's stable. I need to open up a portal to throw us both inside."

She glanced over to him. "You've got two arms, just fine."

"One of them, my left one, can't channel this kind of Akuto."

She looks up at him, dark hair against tan skin and gold eyes rimmed with black, she replied in full confidence "Then I'll be your left arm!" She holds up her arm, the markings still strewn all through and around it, just like his was.

The grin that spreads across his features is a feral one, but it's one he hasn't given in a long time. "I'll have to try and sync our Akuto," he explains while he pulls her closer with his left arm around her midsection.

"Come on then," and she gives him a feral smirk.

"Ah, crap," Gass thinks as his specialized akuto heats through him "I think I'm in love."

Her Akuto resonates with his perfectly, and the portal that opens is big enough to throw him and one other person within. It's like a ball of rotating time loops, with a timed moment he can throw Volgooze and himself inside. He starts to loosen his grip from the girl's side, but her hand is clamped around his back, and he hears her hiss "If you throw yourself into that portal with that mutant I will tear time and space to tiny ribbons to find this hole to beat your ass, you got that?"

His grin doesn't waver, and he nods, forcing Volgooze in and slamming the portal shut. He holds up his arms over her as debris fly from it as the portal slams shut. It's a stable hole, thanks to the girl, and he turns to look at her. "I'm Gass." Her eyes clear up with clarity.

"Oh you're Gass!" She jabs him in the chest with her finger, as though to make sure he's actually there.

One of his eyebrows rise. "You've heard of me?"

She nods, her face suddenly looking much younger now that it isn't tense with rage. "Yeah, 'memi told me about you, a little."

"'Memi?"

She points to the girl of destiny floating in the middle of the sky, emanating Akuto. "Yumemi."

"…Ah." He blinks as he realized his arms are still around her, and he carefully untangles himself, and she pulls her hand from his back. "And you might be?"

She grins, clamping a fist on her chest. "The name's Ichiko, don't wear it out."

He chuckles a little. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ichiko." Without warning, the curse that's been harassing him for weeks now attacks him, and his strength falters.

"Whoa big guy!" It the last thing he hears before he loses consciousness, looking at Ichiko with massive silver hands cupping around him.

OOOOO

Rui feels a twinge of – of jealousy? No, that wasn't it.

Like he was supposed to be a part of that, that whole fight. He was supposed to be there. Princess Ichiko currently has Gass halfway in her lap as Dulahan is carrying them in his silver hands, and concern is strewn across her features. She looks up and spots him, and to Rui's surprise, waves him over.

"Rui, right?" He nods; a little happy she remembers his name. "What's wrong with Gass?"

"The outsider?" He shrugs. "I'm uncertain. The King probably knows."

"Outsider?" She sounds offended, on the defensive.

He flies alongside her as Munto collects Yumemi's sleeping form. "Ah – yes, an outsider. Those who have these abilities but do not belong in the magical kingdom."

"Do not belong? Ho-lee crap," and he's a little shocked by her language "Me an' Gass are like, totally the same."

"How so?" He can see her eyes are drooping. She's probably just as tired as Yumemi is from the fight, which might explain her loose language.

"I don't belong either," she yawns, her head settling against Dulahan. "I only belong with 'Memi and Suzume…" Her eyes glaze over, and she sets her hand, the one with the markings on it, on Gass' shoulder. "I wonder who your friends are…"

Rui watches as her eyes finally close, and he looks ahead of them while they fly.

OOOOO

At least the one named Suzume was easier to deal with. "You're putting them somewhere to sleep?"

Munto nods, in his arms Yumemi, and in Dulahan's Ichiko. He's already had Gass placed in another bed to recover; somewhere just as safe and peaceful. He walks into the bush and places Yumemi in the bed, and Ichiko in a parallel bed, before stepping out, rubbing his head.

"Hey, Munto-"

"It's King Munto," he corrects tartly, and a smile blossoms over the child's face.

"Ha-ha! Wow, you really are like Yumemi says!"

He blinks, turning back around toward his small companion. "Yumemi… Yumemi talks about me?" Suzume nods, still smiling. "What does she say?"

"She says you're strong. And that you want to protect people. But she mostly talks about how she wishes you'd let her help more." His eyes narrow as he walks, and he picks up speed a little, but she keeps up the pace. "I think – you made her – really happy – when you let her come alo- hwaugh!" He turns around to see Suzume face down in the foliage.

"Oh." He pivots over to her and helps her pick herself up.

"Sorry," she apologizes "Yumemi and Ichiko are always telling me to walk slow, or I trip. But that's alright, I always get back up!" He blinks, and a small smile pulls his face up. "Oh you can smile!" With that, his face is placid again.

"I'll send in someone to get you new clothes," he states, gesturing to her thick wooly gear. She giggles, and he rolls his eyes. He'll send someone in that's good with kids.

OOOOO

Ryueli inclines an eyebrow, looking at the small girl in front of her.

"I'm Suzume," she greets, her hand straight out. She has the disposition of a child, but she was the same age as Yumemi. Her face was young, though, and innocent combined with naiveté make Ryueli smile.

"I am Ryueli," and she gently shakes Suzume's hand "and this is Toche."

The girl smiles at Toche, waving slightly, and from behind her robes he waves back. Handing the girl some looser clothes, she pulls off the massive coat and boots, exchanging them for the short skirted dress and slippers. Suzume grins at Ryueli, before looking around the garden area.

"Wow, there are a lot of plants here. I bet Kazuya would like it here. He likes nature."

"Kazuya is…?" Ryueli questioned.

"My husband!"

Ryueli's eyebrows shot up into her violet bangs, her eyes widening. "Your… Husband?" Suzume nodded happily, and Ryueli rubbed her forehead. "Let's get you some food, Princess Suzume."

Suzume ate the fruit mostly in silence, contemplating something rather deeply. When Ryueli inquired about it, she received a startling response.

"There's gonna be a big fight soon," Suzume's young voice prophesized without faltering. "and there's a chance someone might die." She turned towards Ryueli, her smile still plastered on her features. "It's going to be Yumemi, isn't it?"

Ryueli had no answer.