The Twelve Signs
written by Len-chan
The 12 Signs are based on the Asian Yearly Zodiac (year of
the dog, tiger, rooster, etc.) and the 10 Stems are 
based on the Asian elements (wood, fire, water, etc.). The
characters of this story are property of me.  

MITSU'S DREAMS (Mitsu: Dreams!? They're NIGHTMARES!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Ewww..." Shiho mumbled.  "What the hell is that 
on Taro's chin?"

"It's called BABY FOOD," Mitsu explained slowly.  
"It's soft mashed up food...for babies..." 

"I didn't know what it was.  I'm not stupid." Shiho
remarked.

"It could have fooled me..." Mitsu whispered to herself.
Chi jabbed her in the stomach.  

"Shut up," Chi told her.  "We're not here to argue,
we're here to feed Taro." 

"Too bad we didn't have enough money so Toshi and Akemi
could come in and eat." Shiho told them.  Chi stopped
just as she was going to eat a piece of her rice ball.

"I feel guilty about making them stay outside.  What if
they're hungry?" Chi asked.

"Don't worry," Mitsu assured her as she put another
spoonful of Taro's baby food in his mouth.  "They're
guys.  I'm sure than can handle not eating dinner for
a day." 

OUTSIDE

"We're guys...and we can't even handle not eating
dinner for a day..." Toshio mumbled.  He laid down
on the slopped grassy hill, above the town
they were stopping at.  "I'm a wizard...and I'm starving."

"Toshio-kun," Akemi said as he looked up at the dark
sky.  "As much as I want to go eat also.  We just
don't have enough money.  It's a wonder that we
had enough to feed the girls and Taro." 

"Who knew that the child could grow so quickly and
eat milk from a bottle one day and apple sauce the 
next?" Toshio smiled.  

"Hmm...who knows?" Akemi put his arms behind his head
and watched the brightest stars flicker.  "You
know what?  I think this is great.  Two men, out in 
the wilderness, roughing it.  You know, living
off the land."

"Great, then you won't mind if I eat the steaks we
saved for you." a voice said.  Toshio jumped up and 
looked around while Akemi merely lifted his head.

Mitsu held Taro on the side of her waist and Taro
held a brown paper bag that had the name of the
diner where they had eaten on it.  

"Hi, Toshio-" Chi reached up to kiss Toshio, when
he ran past her and headed for the bag of food.  
"What the-"

"Steak!  Rice! Oh!!! Even some spices!" Toshio 
gasped happily.  

"I managed to talk the waiter into giving us
just a BIT more food." Mitsu told him.

"Mitsu, you threatened the waiter that if you
didn't get two extra steaks and some
spices, you'd make a scene on his first day
at work. " Chi reminded her.

"It WORKED didn't it?!" Mitsu asked.  Toshio
took the bag and practically tore it open, looking
for some his food.  He took out a knife and fork
and began to eat the food.  "You're supposed
to share with Akemi, you know."

"It's amazing that you actually remembered I
was alive for once," Akemi grumbled as he walked
past her to get part of his dinner.  "And
I thought you didn't care."

"Trust me," Mitsu answered, her face having
a smug smile.  "I DON'T." 

"Taro lub Ak-mi!" the child giggled happily 
as Akemi took him from Mitsu's arm.  He
cradled the baby in his arms and smiled.

"Did you miss me, Taro?  Did Mitsu treat
you bad?" Akemi asked.  
	
"Taro lub Mi-su!" Taro told him.  Akemi 
frowned.  
	
"Hmm...maybe he has gas." 

"Hey!" Mitsu tore Taro from Akemi and
glared at him.  "Don't try to brainwash
my baby!"

"Since when was he YOUR baby?" Akemi asked.

"Since I volunteered to take care of him,
you JERK.  So go eat!" Mitsu growled.  Taro
began to cry and the two stared at each 
other.

"LOOK WHAT YOU DID!" they screamed.  Chi
lifted Taro from Mitsu and calmed him down
while the two turned away from each other.

"Grow up you two.  You made Taro cry.  He
doesn't like to see his guardians arguing..."
Chi told them.  

"Make him apologize..." Mitsu replied.

"ME!?" Akemi yelled. "Why should I apologize
to you!?"

"I'm sorry...I can't hear you." Mitsu 
said calmly.  She pretended to ignore the angry
red head beside her.  

"Mitsu..." Chi warned.  

"Fine...I'm sorry...Akemi..." she gritted her
teeth as she told Akemi she was sorry.  He
had a satisfied look on his face.  

"Well, that's better...now apologize for
being such a pain." Akemi smiled.  He turned
around and headed for the bag with the food
as Mitsu whirled around and jumped on his
back.  

"YOU JERK!!!" she yelled.  She put her
arms around his neck and squeezed. Akemi
gagged and the group just watched as 
they wrestled each other to the ground.  
"I said I'm sorry and all you can do is
tell me to apologize MORE!?" 

Mitsu was on top of him and had her hands
around his neck.  Akemi grabbed her sides 
and she fell back, letting go of his neck.
Akemi pinned her arms to the ground.  He 
put is face close to hers until she could
feel is warm breath on her face.  "Why don't 
you just shut up and let me enjoy my 
dinner...?" he asked.  

She uncontrollably blushed red as Akemi pressed
his mouth against her lips.  Her eyes grew
wide and she struggled to push him off.  
Toshio stopped eating and stared.  Shiho was 
silent and Chi was left open mouthed.  Taro
clapped his hands and giggled happily.  

When Akemi stopped and stood up, Mitsu managed
to control her shaky legs and sat in front of
him.  A second later, Akemi held his hand to 
the left side of his face and Mitsu's hand was
in a fist.  She looked so angry, Chi had never
seen her like this.  

"HARMONY!" she yelled. A dark brown horse with
a black mane and tail galloped by her side. With
an easy grace, she put one foot on the harness
and pulled herself up.  She made a clicking
sound with her tongue and the horse ran away with
her on it. 

"MITSU!" Chi yelled.  She looked at Akemi with
a cold glare.  "You bastard...look what you've 
done." 

~~~

Mitsu sat cross legged on a rock by the water's
edge.  Harmony was drinking the river water as
she looked at her reflection.  Quietly, she
began to cry. Never in her life had she been so
embarrassed to what had just happened.  She wanted
to throw herself into the river.  

But all she could see was Taro's crying face if
she killed herself.  Mitsu laid on the rock on
her stomach and let one hand touch the water.  

"Mitsu!" a female voice sighed happily.  Chi ran 
towards the rock and sat next to Mitsu.  "I'm so
glad I found you!  I've been looking for a while
now...are you okay?"

"Yeah..." Mitsu wiped her eyes.  "I'm okay.  I'm
sorry I ran out like that..." she gave a careless
laughter.  "I didn't really know what to do."

Chi was silent.  "Akemi kissed you, you know.  You
can't deny that.  We all saw you."

"I want to disregard it.  But I can't.  It should
have been nothing, but it wasn't.  Why can't I get
rid of feeling he gave me, Chi?" Mitsu asked.  

Chi thought.  "I have the same feeling when Toshio
kisses me.  Maybe...maybe you and him were...you 
know...together."

"What!? Impossible." 

"No, think about it.  If we are just reincarnations
of the past guardians, what if the Tiger and the
Dragon were supposed to be married or something," 
Chi suggested.  Mitsu looked unconvinced and as
angry as ever. "Maybe?

"Chi, do you mind if I talk to her for a second?"
a male voice asked.  They turned around.  Chi 
looked from Akemi's sincere face to Mitsu's 
unemotional one.  

"It's your call." Mitsu told her.  

"I'll be watching the horses." Chi told them.  She
stood up and walked into the forest.  Akemi sat 
down next to Mitsu.  

"I should apologize for what happened." Akemi told
her. 

"Yeah, you should.  What you did was uncalled for
and embarrassing toward myself." Mitsu growled.  
Akemi looked at her.  She still looked at her
reflection in the water.  

"What I did was totally uncalled for.  And for
the most part inappropriate of the moment.  But
I won't lie to you.  I enjoyed it." Akemi told
her straight forward.  

Mitsu did nothing.  She just continued to stare.
After endless moments, she stood up and walked 
toward the waterside to get Harmony.  

"Mitsu, where are you going?" Akemi told her.  
He ran after her and held the reins of her 
horse before she could run away. She looked
at him and wanted to cry.  As the sky 
darkened and rain began to fall, she began
to cry.

"I hate you," she hissed.  "I hate you and
everything you own...and..."

"Did you hate my kiss?" he asked solemnly.  

She cried even more.  "NO!"  She sobbed.
"That's why I hate you! I didn't want to be
kissed.  I didn't want to enjoy it.  But I
did!"

He stared at her as she cried in the rain.  
The drops of water soaked her purple hair
and clothes as they stood there.  Akemi 
just held her for endless moments in the
rain.

~~~

"Oh no, Taro...are you getting sick? You're
going to get a cold...oh, my poor baby..."
Mitsu felt the child's head nervously.  Her
hand was still shaking from her dream.  

"Does he need medicine?" Toshio asked.  Mitsu
nodded no.

"I think he'll be okay." she told him.  Chi
rode closer to her and leaned over.  

"Why did you wake up screaming 'NO, NO, NO!'
this morning?" Chi asked.  

"I had this icky dream that Akemi and I-" Mitsu
snapped her mouth closed and looked at Chi's 
face.  Surprise was written all over her friend's
face.  

"You and Akemi..." Chi encouraged her.  

"Lost...Taro! Yes...I was so scared that I lost
him in my dream, I lost it..." Mitsu sweatdropped.
Chi looked at her face for any sign of falseness
to the story.  Mitsu bit her tongue to keep a
straight face and Chi nodded.

"Okay...if you say so..." Chi sped her horse's 
pace and caught up front of Toshio.  Mitsu
sat on her horse quietly, Taro was asleep in
her arms as she lazily walked behind the group.

"Mitsu..." a voice whispered.  She turned her
head to the side.  Akemi rode his horse next
to hers.  "Are you absolutely sure that Taro
is not sick?" 

"I'm positive.  Don't you think I would know
if a child is sick or not?" Mitsu asked 
harshly.  Akemi's left eye, the one not covered
by the eye patch, had a surprised look.  

"All right, you didn't have to get so angry
about it.  I was just asking," Akemi told her. 
Mitsu seemed upset.  Usually, her eyes were
big and she had a slight smile on her face,
but today her eyes were lowered more and her
mouth was set in a tight line.  "Are you 
all right?" 

"Fine." Mitsu snapped.  Akemi studied her
and suspected it had to do with her dream.
Early that morning, she woke everyone up
by screaming "NO!!!! NO! No!  That can't 
happen!"

Chi had been the first at her side and
shook her awake.  Mitsu looked around the
camp and turned red.  She apologize and
told everyone to go back to sleep.  Still,
while she tired to return to sleep, Akemi
watched her, just in case she began to 
scream again.  

"You're being a bitch, Mitsu.  I was just
asking you." Akemi snapped back.  He 
moved his horse away and let Mitsu stay
farther behind.  

The group was deep inside the forests of
Prisma.  They rode along a well worn path
beside a river.  Mitsu was just trotting
her horse toward Chi when a scream rang
through the forest.  

"AHHH!" a female voice screamed.  "Please!
HELP ME! SOMEONE!" The group stopped and 
looked around.  The voice screamed again
and Toshio pointed to their right.

"Over there!" Shiho yelled.  Another blond
girl was running quickly.  She wore her 
hair loose and down to her mid back.  It
was wavy and dark blonde.  From what
they could see, her eyes were hazel and
she had a tired look on her face.

"We have to help her!" Chi yelled.  Toshio
rode off and Akemi looked at Mitsu.  

"Protect them." he ordered her.  Mitsu 
gave a nodd and he galloped off after Toshio.

Toshio rode behind the girl and stopped.  He
created a ball of energy in his hands.  He
narrowed his eyes when he saw the pursuers.
They were a group of male bandits after the
poor girl.  With a grunt, he threw the
ball of energy at the cluster of men.  They 
flew in all directions, but they kept coming.

"Come on!" Akemi yelled.  He reached down and
scooped the girl into his arms.  He held her
waist tightly as he rode back to the group.

Toshio was right behind him. "Get her back to
the girls then come back! I want to teach
these guys a lesson!"

"Getting a little noble I see!" Akemi told him.
He rode faster and reached the path.  Mitsu
jumped off her horse and gave Chi Taro.  "Take
her!" 

"I have her," Mitsu told him.  She helped the
girl lay down and gave her some water.  Akemi
began to ride back. "AKEMI BE CAREFUL!" she
screamed.  Akemi, while riding, turned back
and winked at her.  

"Thank you..." the girls whispered.  "I can't
thank you enough." 

"Shh...rest now.  What's your name?" Mitsu 
asked the girl.

"It's...it's Clare..." The girl gasped.  

"Clare.  I'm Mitsu, that's Chi, and that's
Shiho.  The baby is Taro." Mitsu told her.

"Who were the ones that saved me?  I have
to thank them as well." Clare mumbled. 

"The man that held off the Toshio.  He's 
Chi's boyfriend." Mitsu told her.  Clare
smiled and looked at the blue haired girl
on the horse.

"You're lucky...and the other?  The one
that carried me?" Clare asked Mitsu.  "Is
he that girl's boyfriend?" She pointed to
Shiho. 

"WHAT!?" Mitsu blushed.  "No!  His name
is Akemi and he's-" Her face blushed more.

"He's perfectly single?" Clare asked.  Mitsu
nodded.  "I thought that the baby might
be you and his child."  Mitsu blushed more
and Clare chuckled.  

"Do you have child?" Mitsu asked.

"Goodness no..." Clare frowned.  "I was on
my way to see my boy friend and best friend.
They work at the restaurant up the path." 

"Hmm...we'll help you get there as soon as
those two boys get back." Chi told her
cheerfully.

Shiho looked at the distance, trying to
find them.  "Speaking of boys...what's taking 
them so long?" 

"Take this!" Toshio threw five energy balls
at the bandits.  Akemi was fighting three
bandits by himself.  

Both young men were enjoying themselves
very much.  "This is fun, isn't Toshio?" 
Akemi asked as he cut through the bandits
with one slice.  He smiled.

"Very!  But don't tell the girls." Toshio
told him.  Akemi laughed.  

"Don't tell us what?" a voice hissed.  The
two guys looked up and yelled.  

"Girls! Get out of here!" Toshio yelled.

"Toshio!" Chi yelled.  A bandit was running
toward the wizard, a knife in his hands.
Toshio was to surprised to do anything.  

"Toshio!" the group yelled.  A whip
cracked and Chi was on the ground holding
her whip tightly.  The other end was
around the bandit's neck.  

"Don't EVER touch MY Toshio..." she hissed.
She snapped the whip back and the man fell
to the ground.  Toshio turned red as she
came towards him and up her hand on his
forehead.  "Is my baby okay?"

"I hate to break this up," Shiho said.  "But
don't we have better things to do than 
play with bandits?" 

"She's right," Akemi said.  "Mitsu, give me
Taro since you are riding with...I'm sorry,"
he looked at the girl with soft kind eyes. 
"What's your name?"

"Clare.  Chi said that you guys will take me
to the next village.  My boyfriend is there
and I was on my way to see him." Clare told 
him. 

"Of course we will," Toshio told her. "Our
group is here to help."

"Thank you." As the group turned back to the
path, no one noticed the rising body of a
wounded bandit.  Akemi was holding Taro and
was behind the group.  Mitsu's horse
slowed down for him to catch up.  Suddenly,
the bandit gave a yell.  

The group turned around, leaving Taro fully
exposed.  "No!" Clare screamed as she turned.
Two gold, star shaped discs sliced through
the sky and caught the man in the heart. 

The group looked at Clare.  Even she was 
surprised.  "Where...How did you do that?"
Mitsu asked.

"I don't know..." Clare told her.  She began
to scratch at her neck.  "Did it suddenly
get itchy?" She opened her collar and
gave a surprised gasp as she saw the glowing
gold sign at the base of her neck.

"Uma...Horse..." Toshio mumbled. 

~~~~~~

"Die!" Mizunoto, the female stem of water
sliced through the guards of the gates. 

Her brother and team mates looked angry.
"Mizunoto, there is no need for killing.  
If we want to catch Taro and his guardians,
we will have to be slick and spy like.  
They'll know we are coming a mile away
if you keep killing everyone." Kinoto old
her.  

Mizunoto looked annoyed.  "Fine!" 

"Looks like the sighs have been here 
already." Hinoe mumbled.  He touched
the ground with his hand.  

"Then they probably went on to the next
city.  Let's get going!" Mizunoe agreed.
The group began their way down the path.

~~~~~~

"Kira!" Clare yelled.  "Kira!" The red
haired waitress turned around.  

"Clare!  What took you so long, we were
beginning to get worried." Kira told them.

The two girls hugged.  "I was nearly
killed, but these nice people saved me."

Kira looked so thankful and she shook
the group's hands.  A tall young man
walked out of the kitchen.  His hair
was limp and straight, going down
to his mid back.  His eyes were blue
as his hair.  

"Radien!" Clare yelled.  He turned around
and smiled.  He opened his arms wide
and she ran into them, holding him tightly.

"What took you so long, dearest?  I waited
for the longest time." Radien told her.

"I was attacked by some bandits.  These
nice people rescued me and escorted me here."
Clare explained.  Radien looked at the
group and bowed in thanks.

"I can't thank you enough," Radien told then,
"For rescuing my Clare."
	
"Oh..." Shiho whispered.  "Aren't they
a cute couple!" She grabbed on to Akemi's
right arm held it tightly.  

"Please, we'll be closing soon and we'll
be happy to serve you anyway.  We'll find you
a private place to sit and we can all
eat together." Kira told them.

Within half an hour, the place was clear 
of people and the closed sign on the window. 
Clare explained to her two friends about
what the Signs had told her earlier.  Kira
was surprised and looked sad.  She told
Clare to do what was right.  Radien, however,
crossed his arms and looked angry.  

"I will not let the woman I love go out 
with strangers to protect some cursed
child!" he told them.  Mitsu, jumped up and 
slammed her knife close to his hand.  Her
face was contorted in anger.  
	
"Do you care to repeat what you just said
about TARO?" she hissed.  Her purple eyes
flashed an angry light as Radien, moved back.

Chi pulled Mitsu back down, yet she glared
at him from across the table.  "I didn't mean
that he was cursed, but I wouldn't want Clare
to leave." 

"But Radien," Clare whispered as she held his
hand.  "Those to men took down a group of
bandits in a matter of seconds.  I'll be fine."

"I just don't want you to be farther than you
are from me now.  You know I care about you." 
Radien answered.  Shiho and Chi were
watching their conversation as if it were
a soap opera.  Toshio and Akemi ignored them
and continued to eat while Kira tried to calm
Mitsu down from choking Radien. 

"I know you love me and I love you as well, 
but we both know I must do what is right." she 
whispered.  Radien nodded slowly and leaned 
forward to kiss her.  

Toshio slammed his mug on the table.  Everyone
looked up as he stood up. "Toshio, dear, what's
wrong?" Chi asked.

Toshio was heading for the door. "They're here."

"Who?" Clare asked. The group stood up and 
Mitsu began to get ready to move.  

"The Ten Stems are in town.  We have to get out
of here." Toshio told them.

"He's right.  We have to lure them out of town,"
Akemi told them. "Radien, Kira, do you mind 
staying here with Shiho and our things. We'll
lead them out and come back later."

"Are you sure-?" Kira began, but Chi cut her off.

"Don't worry." Chi told them.

Clare gave Radien a quick kiss and ran out the
back with the group.  Just as they fled
past the field, Kinoto saw them.  

"There!" he yelled.  The Ten Stems ran off in
all directions, surrounding the group at all
sides.  From the door of the diner where
the group had run from, Shiho, Kira, and
Radien watched. 

"So, Toshio," Tsuchinoto announced. "We meet
again.  This time, your father is not here
to help you."

"That may be so, but I have friends that will
help me." Toshio yelled back.

"That group of amateurs you call friends!?"
Kanoto laughed.  The girl in the red suit
saw Mitsu holding a bundle in her arms.

"There!" Hinoe yelled.  "That purple
haired girl has the child!  Attack her!" 

"GET THEM!" Tsuchinoto ordered.  The 
group began to fire.  The Fire Twins, 
Hinoe and Hinoto sent rings of fire
towards Mitsu.  On instinct, she turned
her back and was scorched by flames on 
her back.  

"Mitsu!" Chi screamed.  "Capricorn!" A 
water made Capricorn (goat) rose from
Chi's hands and soothed Mitsu's back.
What was left was a small burn on her 
back a hole in her shirt.  

"Protect TARO!" Mitsu yelled.  

Mizunoe and Mizunoto sent ice crystals
flying toward the guardians.  Mitsu's
eyes grew large and held the child tighter.

"No!" a voice yelled.  Radien jumped next
to them and threw bolts of electric blue
at icicles.  They fell and harmlessly melted.

Toshio looked at his sign on Radien chest.  
"What is it?" Radien asked as he pointed
to the symbol.  

"Tori...the Rooster!" Toshio yelled as he
threw another energy ball.  

"Looks like we found two instead of one!"
Chi yelled as she sliced a cut on Kinoe's 
shoulder.

"Make it three!" another voice yelled.  Kira
stood outside the circle, holding a red
crossbow in her arms.  "Everyone, DUCK!"

The Signs fell to the ground as she let
two arrows of fire spiral over their heads and
set fire to the ground surrounding Kinoe and 
her brother Kinoto.

"I am NE! The Rat!  But that sounds so icky...
call me a mouse instead..." Kira mumbled.

"Now is NOT the time, Kira!" Radien yelled
as his best friend.  

"Akemi! Take Mitsu and Taro into the forest
and hide! We'll take care of them!" Toshio
yelled.

"Fine!" Akemi yelled.  He grabbed Mitsu's
arm and they ran into the surrounding 
forest.  

"Hinoe!" Hinoto yelled to his sister.  "Let
these fools battle it out! The child is
over there!" He pointed to the fleeting 
glimpse of Mitsu's purple hair.  He and his
sister smiled and ran into the forest after
them.  

~~

"C'mon!" Akemi ordered.

"I'm running as fast as I can!" she told
him.  She jumped over tree roots, rocks,
and around vines.  Akemi was far ahead of
her now and she could see him any more in
the darkness of the forest.  "Akemi!"

"Ak-mi!" Taro yelled.  

"Akemi!!!" Mitsu yelled.  She came into
an open field and looked around.  She saw Akemi 
running at the other end and followed him. 
By the time she got to another clearing she
saw Akemi running and looking back at her.

"Come on!" he yelled.  Mitsu's screamed his 
name as she saw the crack in the earth in
front of him.  Akemi turned forward and yelled.

"AKEMI!" Mitsu screamed.  She ran to the edge
of the gorge and saw a pit of darkness.  "Akemi?"
She whispered.  She tired to warn him, but he 
had fallen in.  

"Come on, Guardian Dragon! Give us the child!" a
voice boomed.  Mitsu turned back and the forward.

"Akemi..." she whispered as she jumped of the 
gorge and on to the other side.  She ran as far
as she could and then stopped.  "No...NO!" 

A huge stone was in front of her way and she
couldn't go any more forward.  To her sides
here steep rock surfaces and she realized she'd
run herself into a corner.  "Shit." she mumbled
under her breath.  

She saw a glowing ball of fire heading toward her
and ducked.  It hit the rock and created a dark
mark.  "I am Hinoe!" the girl yelled.

"And I am Hinoto!" the guy echoed.  Together
they chorused, "We are the Fire Twins!" 

"Fuck that." Mitsu hissed.  The twins narrowed
their eyes and had evil grins.  

"Well..." Hinoe mumbled.  "Let's see how THIS
feels!" She sent a spiraling flame at
her.  Mitsu turned to her left, but was too
slow as the flame burnt part of her shirt sleeve.

"Ah, the smell of burning flesh..." Hinoto 
mumbled.  "It's a pity we'll have to hurt YOU. 
You're so pretty, too.  Oh, well, Fire Rings!"

"I don't think so!" another voice echoed.

Mitsu turned her back away from the fire rings 
and held Taro in front of her.  She didn't feel
a sting of fire.  Instead, to hands clamped down
on her shoulders and she turned around.

"Akemi!" She gasped.  His face had dirt on 
it and his shirt was torn in many places.  He
had a trace of blood trickling down his chin from
a cut at the corner of his mouth.  She placed
a warm hand on the blood and wiped it away gently.

"AH!" Akemi screamed.  She realized that that he was
her human shield and that the twins were scorching
his backside.  

"Ak-mi!" Taro cried as he sobbed hysterically.  
Akemi's tiger sign glowed bright orange and he
turned to face the two.  He held out his sword.

"This!" Akemi growled, "Is the Sword of Light.  
It can cut through stone." Akemi told them.  He
held it with on hand, the other, holding Mitsu
and Taro back.  

"That's a bunch of shit and you know it," Hinoto
laughed.  "Fire Rings!" 

Akemi gave a grunt and ran forward.  Mitsu and
Taro watched in silence as Akemi's sword sliced
through the rings of fire and sent some flying
back to it's creators.  Hinoto and Hinoe's
clothes caught on fire and they yelled. 

"We'll be back!" they screamed.  The two siblings
ran back into the woods. 

Akemi stood less than twenty feet from them, in
the pose he landed in.  With quiet groan, he
crumpled to the ground, clutching his right arm.  
Mitsu ran forward and looked at it.  His arm had 
a deep wound and blood was pouring from it like a 
fountain.  

"Oh, God! Akemi!" Mitsu growled.  She tore off
her good shirt sleeve and put Taro down next to her.
She tied the sleeve around his arm to stop the
bleeding.  "You stubborn, stupid, IDIOT! You 
could have killed yourself!  You are SO damned
lucky I remembered my First Aid training from
school." 

"I save your life and you yell at me, telling
me I'm an idiot?  You're acting like a bitch
again, Mitsu," Akemi snickered.  Mitsu gently
pressed a finger against his cut and he yelled
out.  "FUCK!!! That burns!"

"Mitsu! Akemi!" voices rang through the forest.
"Taro!? Where are you guys?!" It was Chi and
Toshio's voices.  

Mitsu looked toward the forest then back at
Akemi's anguished face.  She leaned over and
kissed his cheek quickly.  "Thank you," she
whispered.  Akemi's eyes were huge in the surprise
as he turned to look at her.  But she already
had Taro in her arms and was standing in front
of him with her back at him.  "We're over here!
And you better hurry! The red haired idiot 
cut himself!" 

~~~~~~~~~~~

Mitsu walked into the room of the small in the
group was staying at.  Akemi was on the bed,
shirtless and reading a book.  He was propped
against the head board of the bed by pillows.
She held Taro in her arms and she silently 
closed the door.

"Look Taro! Akemi can READ!" Mitsu said, faking
her surprise.  Akemi looked up and smiled.

"Hey," he told her quietly.  The way he looked
at her made Mitsu blush slightly as he waved
his good arm for her to come over. "How's your
back?" 

Mitsu cocked an eye brow and turned around.  She
wore a dress Kira loaned her that had an open
back so her back wouldn't have to be pressed 
against any cloth.  It revealed tightly wrapped
white bandages around her body.  "Just great,
My back is exposed for the whole world to see
and when the wind blows, I'm freezing." 

Akemi laughed.  "Let me see Taro," he told her.
She handed him over to the man on the bed.  "Hey,
big boy...are you okay?"

"Yah!" Taro giggled happily.  He threw his arms
around Akemi's neck.  "I miz yoo, Da..da.." 

"Dada?" Akemi and Mitsu mumbled.  "WHAT?"

"Did he just call me Dada?" Akemi asked.  Mitsu
nodded in surprise.  

"Ma...me..." he said as he reached up toward 
Mitsu.  Mitsu looked as shocked as Akemi did and
the two of them stared at each other.  Taro 
clapped his hands.  "Mi-su...ma-me...Ak-mi...Da-
da..." 

"Oh, no..." Mitsu mumbled.  Then she smiled as 
she sat down by on the bed by Akemi. "Well,
I guess this will give me a change to practice
the child skills I'll need if I want to become
a children's doctor."

"I'm a father?" Akemi mumbled over and over.  

"Whoa!? Did I hear right?" a shocked voice asked
as the door opened for six other people
to come in.  "Akemi's a DAD?" Radien and Toshio
asked, shocked. 

"Then, whose the mother?" Kira asked.  She looked
at Shiho and then at Mitsu.  "Oh! Mitsu, congrates!
I can't wait to throw a baby shower!"

"WHAT!!!! NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Mitsu screamed.  She 
jumped up and ran past them, through the door, and
to her room, locking her door loudly behind her.

"Guess not." 

~~~~

Mitsu sat up straight on her bed on the ground. She
looked around and saw the dying camp fire at her
feet, the glimmer of the river a hundred feet from
the camp, and the horses tied to trees.  She
stretched, and felt a strain on her back.  She 
reached back and her eyes grew large as she
felt her back wrapped with bandages. She slowly
counted the bodies around the camp fire.  
"Mitsu...one, Taro 2, Chi 3, Toshio 4, Akemi 5,
Shiho 6," She saw wavy blond hair and straight
blue hair. "Clare and Radien...eight..." The
red hair of her friend. "Kira...nine..."

"Mitsu," a voice said next to her.  She felt some-
thing around her waist and flowed her body down
to someone's bare arm around her waist.  She 
followed it to it's owner.  Akemi looked at her
with sleepy eyes.  "Go back to sleep. Are you
cold? Perhaps you should bring the children
closer." 

"AHHH!!!!" Mitsu screamed.

~~~~~

"Mitsu!" Mitsu felt her body get doused with
cold water and she stood up screaming.

Akemi stood in front of her with the bucket,
laughing hysterically as she ran around
screaming.  "YOU JERK!!!" Mitsu punched 
his stomach in anger.  "I was sleeping!"

"You were SCREAMING.  And it's time to
go." Akemi told her.

"I tried to wake you up several times, but
you just kept saying 'sleep...go'." Chi told
her.  Mitsu frowned and looked up at the sky.

"I know I'm not the perfect person, but WHY?"
Mitsu asked.

"Are you coming?" Shiho hissed.  Mitsu
nodded.  She quickly rolled up her things
and put them on her horse.  

"Really, Mitsu, this is the third night in
a row you've woke up screaming," Kira told
her.  "Do you fear something?"

"Everyone fears something," Radien said as
they mounted their horses.  Kira, Shiho, and
Akemi, Toshio and Chi rode on their own horses. 
Radien and Clare shared and Mitsu carried Taro.
"That's probably what she's dreaming about."

"You're probably right, I'm afraid of marrying
Akemi, having lots of kids, and getting stuck
with HIM for the rest of my life." Mitsu told
them.

"SO... THAT's what you've been dreaming about,"
Chi told her as she took Taro into her arms and
rode ahead. "Care to share the details?"

Mitsu shivered.  "Eww...no...I would rather
get frozen in ICE before I marry THAT."  

"I'm glad we see eye to eye on that, Mitsu,"
Akemi remarked.  "Because I feel the same
way."

"At least if we ever get stuck being together,
you won't be stuck with a zoo animal." Mitsu
snickered.  

"Oh, no...not again..." Chi mumbled. Akemi
glared at the purple haired girl riding
next to him.

"Wanna bet?" Akemi asked.  Mitsu scowled
and turned her head slowly.  Her eyes were
narrowed as she pointed at him. 

"YES..." she hissed. The tip of her left 
finger, which was pointed at Akemi
sparked.  The group heard a crackling noise
coming from behind them and turned around.

Mitsu's finger was glowing and sparks of
electricity came out of her fingers.  Her
eyes turned all purple as she send a bolt
at Akemi.  

"AHHH!!"  Akemi yelled as his body coursed 
over with 1700 watts of electricity.  

"Geez," Chi mumbled.  "Half to the next
stop and she electrocutes Akemi." 

"You okay?" Toshio asked him.  The group
stopped and Chi and Toshio rode back to 
the two.  Akemi's bright red hair was 
singed at the tips and his clothes had 
gray areas and holes.  

"I'm fine..." Akemi told them.  He turned
to yell at Mitsu when her body fell off
her horse and on to the ground.  

"Mitsu!" Chi gasped.  She jumped off her
horse and ran to her friend's side.  She
touched Mitsu's oddly pale head.  "OhmiGod!
She's so cold!"  

The rest of the group got off their
horses and surrounded Mitsu.  "Her pulse
is slowing!" Kira gasped as she held the
faint wrist.  

"What happened to her?" Chi demanded.
"MITSU!!!" 

"Perhaps the energy she sent towards
Akemi was part of her own energy and she
passed out from lack of it." Radien 
suggested.

"That has to be the case..." Clare told
them fearfully.  "She can't ride on 
her horse like this! She'll fall!" 

"Akemi," Chi growled as she stood up and faced
him.  "It is your fault that Mitsu's out
cold.  Carry her on your horse and one of us
will ride hers."

"Why do I have to-" Akemi started.  The group
glared at him.  "Fine."

"I'll take her horse." Clare told them.  They
mounted on the horses and Toshio lifted Mitsu
up to Akemi.  He positioned her sideways, so
she sat with both legs on one side.  

"Be careful..." Chi told him.  Akemi nodded.
He stroked his hair back and took the reins
of the horse.

~~~~~~~~~~

Mitsu opened her right eye and saw Taro in a 
cradle next to her bed.  She quickly closed
that eye and opened her left.  She saw Akemi 
sitting on a chair eating something.  

"Chi...?" Mitsu whispered.  She let her eyes
look around a bit, but her blue haired best
friend was no where in sight. 

"They went to eat in the bar across the street.
How are you feeling?" Akemi asked.  

"You...." Mitsu grumbled.  

"Yes, me," Akemi told her.  He stood up and
walked up to her head.  "You did a great
job burning me today."

"If I had the strength...I'd burn you up more...
you jerk..." Mitsu mumbled.  Akemi laughed and
placed a gentle hand on her forehead. 

"You're getting warmer.  Any idea what happened
to you?" Akemi asked. 

"I was just angry at you...you always make me
angry.  I just couldn't take it and I gathered
energy.  Then I let it go in one beam and hit
you.  Next thing I knew, after you're smoking
next to me...my head hurt so much...it was like
a mace was crushing my skull.  So I passed out."
Mitsu exclaimed.

"Raiden said it might have been loss of energy."
Akemi reported.

"That's probably it.  Raiden's such a wonderful
man.  Clare's so lucky to have him..." Mitsu 
sighed.  

"I bet Raiden couldn't slice a mountain in two..."
Akemi mumbled beneath his breath.  

"Did you say something?" Mitsu whispered. 

"Huh? No.  You stay here and I'll go tell Chi that
you're awake.  And don't say I stayed to talk to
you because she'll kill me.  She wanted me to 
go tell her as soon as you showed signs of life
again." Akemi ordered.

"I wasn't dead," Mitsu replied as he flew out
the door.  She smiled and closed her eyes, "He
might not be able to slice a mountain in two,
but at least he's a gentleman." 

A few minutes later, Chi burst through the door,
wiping her face with napkin.  Mitsu opened her
eyes and looked at her.  She smiled and gave
a small wave. 

"You're awake!" Chi gasped.  She ran over to 
Mitsu's bedside.  "I'm so glad you're okay!"

"I'm fine, Chi.  Just a little tired by fine."
Mitsu answered.  Chi let out a sigh of relief.

"Akemi told me and I rushed up here as soon
as I can.  Did he tell you what we thing might
had happened?" Chi asked.

"Yes...I think I was out of energy." Mitsu told
her.  

"Ah-hah!" Chi yelled.  "He did stay and not
come tell me first!!!  AKEMI!!!"

"SHIT!!!" Mitsu heard a voice yell.  The next 
thing she knew, Chi was out the door yelling
at Akemi.  

"And everyone says I'M the violent one..." 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yes...Mitsu hates her dreams.  I would too, I 
scorn dreams like that...ew... Good thing is,
she fired Akemi (ehehehe....) I thought it
was funny.  Maybe it's just me...^_^; 

Next Episode:
Rabbit Found: Pink haired orphan kid gets
new home with the signs and Mitsu's adoptive
sister.  Plus MORE fights between Mitsu
and Akemi! (Isn't life great?)

~Len-chan