Yumi: "Yeah no worries, I'm just here to talk to Aiko."
Aiko: "Really? About what?"
Yumi: "Well as you know, I'm able to communicate with Tora. We just still can't figure out where exactly she is at."
Airi: "Who is Tora?"
Aiko: "Well she's another one of our masters who went missing during the battle that recently happened."
Airi: "Went missing?"
Yumi: "Yeah, Izumi saw her body just disappear during their fight with Mettanica, but I can hear Tora trying to help us find her so she's not dead."
Airi: "Oh I see."
Yumi: "Yeah, Tora told me that she doesn't know where she is. She said that it's hard for her to communicate with me mainly because I haven't mastered my telepathy yet, but also because she constantly has to fight for her survival."
Aiko: "Did you tell Asuna?"
Yumi: "Yes, he's doing all he can to try and pinpoint her location, it's just everything is tough for him especially being the emperor."
Aiko: "So what's going to happen now?"
Yumi: "Well Umm not that I was spying on you. But I saw you when you healed Aizu and even Ziku's mom. You didn't know at the time, but I knew it was you and you're amazing Aiko. You have a real gift."
Aiko: "I don't know what you're talking about."
Yumi: "Aiko you can help me. We could find Tora."
Aiko: "But how?"
Yumi: "If I'm not mistaken, only angels can heal, and that would explain your white hair and aura."
Aiko looks back towards Airi and all Airi does is close her eyes.
Aiko: "How do you even know that?"
Yumi: "Well my clan has this book that tells about each of the realms and I do a lot of reading. Your realm is kingenzeti realm of the deities. Aiko you're an archangel."
Aiko just stares at Yumi not knowing what to say.
Yumi: "I have a plan, it said that archangels are very powerful not only can you guys heal almost anything, but your sensory skills are unmatched. You could even sense others in different realms and dimensions If Tora is in a different realm or dimension we could find her Aiko I just need you to help me!"
Aiko: "I'll do it. For Tora."
Yumi: "Great, let's start."
Yumi sits down on the floor with her legs crossed and eyes closed. Aiko stands behind her and places her hands on her shoulders closing her eyes as well. Then out of no where both of them hear Tora's voice call out to them.
Tora: "Yumi?! Yumi?! Can you hear me?!"
Yumi: "Yes, I could hear you."
Aiko: "I could hear her too."
Yumi: "I linked you to my mind, so you would be able to hear and locate her."
Aiko twitches as it transitions to Tora. Aiko can see Tora and can see exactly where she is. Problem is she doesn't know where that place is. Aiko looks around more to see if she can recognize anything, but it's useless. Nothing seems to be earth like, Tora must be in another dimension of some kind only linked to Mettanica. Both Yumi and Aiko begin to twitch as they are still young girls so they are not completely mastered in using their abilities, especially Aiko with just finding out hers. Then both of them fall due to fatigue losing the link to Tora.
Airi: "Aiko are you ok?"
Aiko can barely talk as she just breathes heavily.
Yumi breathing heavily: "So.. did.. did you see her?"
Aiko breathing heavily: "Yeah, but... I just.. don't know where she is. I don't know anything about the realms and dimensions."
Yumi: "It has to be an infinite space that Mettanica has created where only she has access."
Aiko: "So we might not ever find it or Tora."
Yumi: "Don't say that! We'll find her."
Aiko starts crying
Aiko: "How!? I finally start telling myself that I can be useful, but I end up letting everyone down again! It's so frustrating to know you have so much power, but to be so useless and weak that you can't even make a difference!"
Yumi: "Aiko, I'm with you. I will always believe in your strength, so you should too. You're not alone I feel the same way, I have so many abilities, but yet I haven't found Tora! We have to just keep trying, Tora hasn't given up on us, so we have to keep going and not give up on her. Aiko we will find her, just don't give up now."
Airi starts to tear up seeing Yumi comfort Aiko.
Airi: "Is there anyone else that could help you guys find Tora?"
Yumi: "What do you mean?"
Airi: "You should gather like a team and all of you work together to find her."
Aiko and Yumi look at each other and while some time passes. Kireina, Chiori, Poku and Haruna all end up at Aiko's front door.
Kireina: "So what is this like a slumber party?"
Yumi: "I guess, if that's how you want to look at it."
Kireina: "This will be my first slumber party so of course I will treat it like one!"
Chiori: "So what's this all about?"
Yumi: "Well me and Aiko are close to finding where Tora is, we felt that all of us working together will help find her."
Kireina: "I see, I'm in. Anything for Tora."
Poku: "Same here."
Chiori: "What is it that you need us to do?"
Yumi: "Me and Aiko will link with Tora, Aiko will tell you the details of what she sees, since Kireina and Haruna scored high on the intellect test I'm sure you guys can look into my book and try and figure out if she's in one of the realms or if not how we can access the dimension Mettanica put her in. Chiori you have lots of energy so that means your chi levels are the highest of us all. I'm asking you to lend us your chi so we could hold the link longer."
Poku: "What can I do?"
Yumi: "I need you to be the one to communicate with Tora, if I do it my chi drains faster."
Poku: "Got it!"
Yumi: "Great! Everyone ready?"
All the girls nod and then they begin. The same as before, Aiko and Yumi have their eyes closed with Aiko touching Yumi's shoulders. Yumi tries linking to Tora, but it doesn't seem to be working. It's like the link between her and Tora has been blocked. Yumi keeps trying harder and harder to link with Tora, but nothing is working. Yumi is trying so hard that blood starts falling from her head.
Poku: "Yumi you have to stop!"
Aiko is in a void all by herself it's nothing but white. She looks around and then sees Mettanica.
Mettanica: "So you are the one who can see within my dimensions. And your friend is the telepath. I'm not going to lie, your little plan almost worked. My dimensions are special, not even archangels have access."
Aiko: "But I saw it before."
Mettanica: "Yes because I let you. I had to let you at least attempt to save your friend. Too bad you guys are too young and useless, or perhaps that could have worked the first time."
Aiko: "You monster! How could you do something like this!?"
Mettanica: "It's easy, I just love it. You are something to worry about though. I wouldn't want you to get a hang of your power, actually I can't allow you to."
Aiko: "What are you....."
The void Aiko is in starts vibrating and pounding in at her head as she can't escape it. All of the girls see Aiko's body collapse to the floor as they all get scared.
Mettanica: "You're lucky I can't kill you, but this should keep you restrained long enough for me to obtain your power for myself. I'll be seeing you Aiko."
Aiko just starts screaming as she's in lots of pain as she just keeps rolling her body on the ground with tears falling from her eyes.
Kireina: "Aiko!"
Chiori: "We have to just take them to the hospital, something happened and we can't help them just yelling their names!"
Both Yumi and Aiko get taken to the hospital. Yumi suffered from trauma to the blood vessels in her head due to Mettanica stressing her mind. Aiko is in a coma when you look at her from the outside, but inside her own mind she's suffering intense pain on her body that's real external pain. When Omoi hears of the news him, Kame, Isamu, Jiro, Kanju, Shiro and Limbo all rush to the hospital to see what's going on.
Omoi: "What's happening?"
Poku: "We have no idea, one minute we're trying to find and help Tora the next both of them fall and their hurt."
Jiro: "You guys were trying to find Tora?"
Kireina: "Yes, they had some kind of plan and then all of sudden this happens."
Haruna: "Wait, where is Ziku?"
Chiori: "Yeah how come he isn't here?"
Kireina: "I'd think Ziku would of been the first one here."
Omoi: "I haven't seen Ziku in the past 3 days."
Kireina: "What why?!"
Omoi: "It's his birthday."
Kireina: "What does that mean? You're supposed to see him even more then."
Omoi: "No, you don't understand. Every year at this time he always disappears, not even his own mom knows where he goes."
Haruna: "Why does he just disappear on his birthday?"
Omoi: "Well Ziku lost his father and all of his clan on his birthday. After that happened I never seen Ziku on his birthday ever again. It's like he keeps himself away from the world on his birthday because he feels like only tragedies happen on this day. If he was here to see this then it would only make it worse for him."
Chiori: "Poor Ziku."
Poku: "No wonder he smiles so much he truly tries to hide all of his sadness."
Omoi: "Lets not worry about it right now, our priority is Aiko and Yumi."
Aiko is still going through the most intense pain that she's ever felt. Her body looks as if she's sleep, but within she's hurting and in excruciating pain. So much to where she's crying and tears flow from her closed eyes.
Jiro: "Look Aiko is crying!"
All of them hover over Aiko's body wondering what is happening to her. Then all of a sudden all of the lights go out and an explosion goes off. The first one to run out and see what's happening is Kame as he and Mettanica make eye contact. Mettanica making everyone fall asleep except for those surrounding Aiko.
Mettanica: "I would appreciate it if you would just let me take your friend."
Kame just stares at her not saying anything, but getting into his fighting stance.
Mettanica: "I thought so."
Kame rushes towards her, but he gets trapped inside a barrier. He tries to break it, but it's made of a rubbery like material that his strength alone will not be able to penetrate it. Mettanica walks pass him and looks into his eyes.
Mettanica: "I would kill you right here, but he has plans for you."
Then Mettanica walks as the barrier Kame is in follows her. She gets to Aiko and Yumi and notices that they both are surrounded by their friends. Mettanica smiles as everyone tries to rush towards her, but they all come to a complete stop and can't move their bodies. Then they start falling asleep one by one as she grabs Aiko, placing her in the barrier with Kame. She turns to leave, but then Omoi grabs her arm.
Mettanica: "Oh you're still awake?"
Omoi struggling to hold on and fight the sleep trance: "Let.. them go!"
Mettanica: "Or what?"
Omoi falls to one knee and then before he can try and do an attack he just falls and gives in to the trance. Mettanica walks out and meets Izumi at the entrance. They both just have an intense stare downx but then Mettanica runs away and Izumi can't keep up. Ziku sees the smoke from the explosion and runs to the source. When he gets there he walks inside to see Izumi trying to see if everyone is fine.
Ziku: "What happened?"
Izumi: "I don't know I saw the explosion and came as fast as I could, but I was too late. It's Mettanica!"
Ziku sees Omoi's body and for a moment he's just stagnant. He breaths in and out heavily as he just looks at the bodies of everyone else. He falls to the floor and puts his hands on his head about to freak out.
Izumi: "Ziku, it's fine!"
He looks up.
Izumi: "There all just under some sleeping trance, but I can't find Aiko or Kame."
Kanju barely conscious: "She took them."
Izumi: "Ziku you have to go after her, I can't catch her. I'll stay here and look after everyone."
Ziku nods at her and then looks over at Omoi again. He waits awhile and then goes after her. When he goes outside he doesn't know where to start looking. So he closes his eyes and puts his head up and just sniffs. He gets this pungent aroma that also has this dark chi feel to it. He hopes thats her and then goes as fast as he can towards it. Mettanica senses that someone is coming, she knows it's Ziku so she stops and waits for him. As soon as she stops, Ziku goes by her and the wind is super strong and creates a boom.
Mettanica: "You must be the Nakamura."
Ziku: "Let my friends go."
Mettanica: "Well if you would ask nicely."
Ziku: " Please, let my friends go."
Mettanica: "You're cute Nakamura, did you really think I was serious hahaha."
Ziku: "What do you need with them?"
Mettanica: "Well I want Aiko, This Chikara and you are wanted for different reasons."
Ziku: "What could someone possibly want with me?"
Mettanica: "Your power."
After she tell him that, she rushes towards him, but Ziku easily evades and gains distance.
Mettanica: " I can see how capturing you will prove to be difficult."
Ziku looks at the barrier and grabs his sword from his gage.
Kame to himself: "He is finally carrying his sword."
Ziku jumps up and tries to cut the barrier but even with his speed, he missed.
Mettanica: "I'm going to need help, this Nakamura may prove to be difficult."
Mettanica opens up a warp gate and two people emerge. One is a man standing nearly 7ft tall. The other almost same height as Ziku, just a little taller.
Mettanica: "Meet Ganju and Kenchiko."
Ganju walks up towards Ziku and looks down, Ziku gulps and starts sweating from how nervous he is. Ganju punches down towards Ziku, but Ziku evades and Ganju ends up shattering the floor. Even Kame is shook from how strong Ganju is. Kame tries to break free, but he still can't for once his strength can't help him. Kenchiko rushes Ziku and hits him to the ground.
Ziku: "So fast!"
Kenchiko: "What's the matter? Can't keep up?"
Ziku just looks at him and then rushes him as they both begin to fight. Both exchanging blows as no one can see what's happening because both of them are moving too fast. Then Ziku starts using lightning to his advantage. Mid fight Ziku's lightning goes from yellow to orange as it helps his combat skills so his attacks are faster and more precise. Ziku doesn't realize that the color of his lightning changed, but he lands a significant strike on Kenchiko ultimately proving he's stronger. Then he gets attacked by Ganju, but there's not a single hit landing. Ziku pulls his sword and covers it with yellow lightning to electrify it. Ganju stomps the ground and it makes Ziku stumble, but he throws the sword and it goes past Mettanica's face.
Mettanica: "Phew, thats was close."
Ziku smiles.
Mettanica gets a confused look on her face, but watches as Ganju grabs Ziku and bear hugs him squeezing him tightly. Ziku screams as his bones are breaking and he's slowly losing consciousness. Then out of no where Kame punches Ganju in the ribs from the side sending his body flying. Ziku falls to the floor as Kame turns to look at Mettanica.
Mettanica: "What?! But how?!"
She turns to look at where her barrier was and sees that it's severed from Ziku's sword.
Mettanica thinking to herself but panicking: "How?! When did he?! He tricked me! He wasn't aiming for me his plan the whole time was to free the Chikara and Aiko! Even if it meant he gets hurt!"
Kame: "Ziku, can you move?"
Ziku gets up as his bones crack.
Ziku: "Yeah, my back is broken, but I can still move."
Mettanica stares at both of them and gets scared taking Ganju and Kenchiko away with her."
Kame: "No!"
Ziku: "What?"
Kame: "I really wanted to fight that guy, he looked super strong!"
Ziku: "I have a feeling you might be able to sooner than you think."
Ziku looks around, but can't see Aiko anywhere. He tries to find her looking everywhere in the area, but just can't find her. Then Kame goes to him and points up in the air as he notices that she's floating in the air.
Ziku: "Aiko!"
Ziku tries to find a way to get her. He ends up just jumping from tree to tree until he gets high enough to grab her and fall down landing with Aiko in his arms. He puts her down and tries to wake her up then holds her in his arms. Ziku gets a sad look on his face not knowing whether or not she would wake up. Ziku finally picks her up and stands to his feet.
Kame: "Maybe you should..."
Ziku dashes away taking Aiko to the hospital.
Kame just stares knowing he has to walk lol the way back now.
Ziku arrives at the hospital as he sees everyone still down. Izumi still couldn't get anyone to wake up. Ziku staring starts thinking the worst as he falls to his knees still holding Aiko. I'm Ziku's head he has a flashback of Omoi saying that he'll always be by his side and there for him, but then he remembers he told Omoi the same thing, yet he wasn't here for Omoi when he needed him. Ziku believes that everything is his fault as he pulls Aiko close to him and starts to cry. After crying for a few seconds the sadness turns into anger.
Izumi: "Ziku, you have to calm down!"
Ziku slowly lifts his head and Izumi gets frightened by Ziku's eyes. His eyes are a bright white color with lightning aura around his body.
Izumi: "Ziku, listen to me! Everyone will be alright, you don't have to be angry with yourself!"
Ziku clinches his teeth and his muscles start to tense up. Then the aura surrounds Aiko as well. Aiko inside the white void of her mind gets shocked by lightning and all the pain suddenly goes away waking her up and dismissing the curse Mettanica placed. It's as if Ziku's Will was strong enough to even surpass through a curse and help Aiko get out of that state. Aiko opens her eyes to see Ziku holding her and how angry he is. She places a hand on his face and immediately it clams Ziku down. He looks at her and grabs the hand on his face caressing it. He pulls her close and hugs her reassuring her that she's ok. Izumi watches as she starts to calm down.
Izumi to herself: "I was so afraid I couldn't move. His chi just kept rising and rising. It shot past Nino's and Tatsuma's! He's truly something special!"
Asuna: "That chi! No doubt that was Ziku's, but why? And what happen?"
Finally Kame arrives to the hospital. He looks at Shiro and goes to him and tries to wake him up. Ziku, Kame, Izumi and Aiko try to wake everyone up, but no one is budging. In the trance while everyone is sleeping they are in a loop where their fears play over and over.
Izumi: "I don't think we can wake them up."
Aiko: "We can't."
Ziku: "What do you mean we can't? Why?"
Aiko: "This is Mettanica's doing, they won't wake up unless she demands it."
Izumi: "Sad part is that you're right. We have to find her so she could undo this trance."
Kame: "Where would we find her?"
Izumi: "I don't know. I'm not even sure where to start."
Aiko: "Well, it's up to us to find out."