“Are we there yet?” Kumori asked as the three tracked south. 
“Almost, just after the ogres.” Shizumaru said, arming himself with his umbrella. 
“What ogres?” Kumori asked sounding energetic all of a sudden. 
“Those ogres.” Iwa pointed, as she unsheathed her sword. 

“All Right!” Kumori snapped her fingers as she sighted the semi circle horde of ogres that were in front of the gates of a Japanese villa (in the middle of nowhere?). The three could see that holding the band of ogres off was a girl of sixteen, wearing a peach and red colour costume, stern eyes showing fierce determination. Petals of peach blossoms fell when she sliced an ogre in half. 

Kumori smiled as she moved towards the ogres, her in her right hand a shard of ice begins to grow. One ogre sighted her and charge towards Kumori who threw the shard of ice at the ogre. The ice shard grew in length as it wheezed straight into the ogre dragging it backwards as the ice travel up freezing the creature. Impaling two ogres as it slammed them against a tree. The impact cause a crack to grow outwards shattering the frozen ogres to a thousand pieces. 

As the more ogres charged towards Kumori, she readies a ball of fire, with both hands she pulls it to shape it into a chakram(ring thing that Xena throws) of fire. She threw it against them, burning them as it slices them before exploding them into flames. The burning ogres ran into their own kind in panic setting them aflame as well. 

Kumori then aims with a bolt of lightning, hefting it and run before sending it flying. The bolt of lightning sizzle with energy as it impales through another ogre. 
  

Kumori turned towards her companions, Shizumaru had just dispatched two ogres with a toss of his deadly sharp edge umbrella. Iwa sliced through a few without even breaking a sweat. As for the girl in peach she had finish off the last ogre with a wide arc slash, another rain of peach blossoms petals fell. A little dormouse appeared on her shoulder, the girl patted it to calm it down. 

"There there Chi-shu. Everythin's fine." she cooed. 

“Hi. You okay?” Kumori asked the younger girl. 
“I am fine. Thank you.” 
“I’m Kumori.” 
“Rinka. Yoshino Rinka.” 

“They’re early this year. Whose are they?” Iwa asked wiping the blood from her sword. 
“Not Yuga’s. Seems more like Zankuro.” Rinka said. 
“Don’t know what’s in Haohmaru San’s mind when he leave so few to guard the fort.” Iwa mumbled. 

“Oh my!” Rinka covered her mouth. 
“What’s wrong?” 
“Miyuki san! The back gate!” 
“Oh shoot.” Iwa cursed. 
  
  

The four headed to back gate immediately only to be greeted by a mountain of ogre carcasses. The last one fell under the Dai Kwan Dou (Chinese broadsword with long wooden handle) of the petite Japanese lady. Though nearing sixty she seem to be around her forties, soft brown eyes that held a commanding presence, her dark brown hair plaited and a red hairband to keep her fringe from away, grey streaks in her hair was showing up. She looks towards them. 
  

“What took you so long?” she asked as she stabbed the ogre again to make sure it was dead. 
“Er……detour? How’s the Master?” Iwa smiled nervously, Kumori giggled only to be elbowed by her friend. The woman they call Miyuki caught the little action and glanced towards Kumori. 
“Heh heh.” Kumori was a little embarrasses as well. She gave the warrior lady a little wave. 

“He’s fine. Come in. He knows the two of you are here and anxiously awaits this particular report. And so do I.” Miyuki winked. 
The four youngsters sighed in relief as the mood changes. 
“What are you four waiting for? Another horde to attack? Get in here!” She raised her voice slightly 
“Yes Mdm!” Iwa answered for the group as they scrambled past her nervously. 
“Kids.” Miyuki shook her head. 
  

--------- 
  

North-South border of Mo Kai. 
  

Haohmaru enjoys his bottle of sake under the shade of the tree of Galford reported to him. 
“Did you heard what I just said?” he asked. 
“I HAVE INDEED! I WAS THERE TO FIGHT THEM AS WELL. SO I KNOW, THERE IS NO NEED FOR SUCH REPORTS.” 
“But!….” 
“NO BUTS NEEDED MY FRIEND. NOW LET ME ENJOY MY FAVOURITE SAKE IN A MOMENT OF PEACE.” 
  

Galford shook his head. He felt someone pulling his hand lightly. 
“Yes. Poppy?” he asked his dog. It seems to him that she wanted Galford to follow him. Poppy led him over to Nakaruru who was sitting by a spring. 
“You were looking for me?” 
“Yes..” She answered a voice soft that sounded like wind chimes blown by a soft breeze. There was a hint of fear in her voice 
“Naky. What’s wrong? “ He sat down beside her. 

“…She’s back again….” Those big wistful eyes staring Galford. 
“Who? You mean those Black Jackets?” Galford asked, stroking her head. 

“No….worse…’Her’.” 
“Who ‘Her’?” 
“The Dracona Lilian…I..sense she had return….” 
“But she’s being dead for a few hundred years Naky.” 

“….Reincarnation….” 
“I don’t think she would remember. Naky….This one is not really her anymore. What more there is a space of a few hundred years between them. She’s not likely to remember us.” 
“….But I was the one who nearly had her killed.” 
“Naky…That was in the course of duty. Who would have known if she would revert to her evil ways or not.” 

“Dracon is with her this time as well.” 
“You still can’t forget him huh.” Galford frowned. 
“Yes… Made a big sacrifice.” 
“He wanted to. Lilian was his wife after all. You do realise that he treated you like a sister. As did Ukyo to you.” 

“….” 
“Naky. I doubt they would remember anything. If they dared seek revenge.” Galford let the words hung as his hand was on his sword. Nakaruru caught his meaning and gave him a smile. Galford offered her his hand and pulled her up as she took it. 
“Come on let’s patrol the borders together.” Galford said. Nakaruru nodded in agreement. 

“Kids.” Charlotte said as she watched the two headed off