The next morning Ziku is seen just walking through the forest alone. He gets confronted by Poku.
Poku " Hey Ziku!"
Ziku startled as he didn't even sense her because his mind was distracted.
Ziku "Oh, hey Poku. It's been awhile."
Poku " I know, it's so weird not seeing any of you."
Ziku "What have you been up to?"
Poku " Just a little training."
Ziku " You're training too?"
Poku " Well yeah, I can't be the weakest girl out of our class."
Ziku "You aren't weak."
Poku "Eh, there's only two things I know for certain. That I am little, and my name is Poku. Being strong is not something I'm familiar with."
Ziku " If that's the case you should train with me sometime."
Poku begins to blush and then places her hands on her face.
Poku "You mean, just me and you?!"
Ziku "Probably us and Cayde."
Poku "Sounds cool! Yeah, whenever you want to I'll be ready!"
Ziku "Great! Oh before I forget, we planned to have this party thing in like a week and I was inviting everyone. Did you want to come?"
Poku "Of course! Sounds so fun!"
Ziku "Great! Oh and Poku."
Poku "Yes?"
Ziku "Thank you for running into me. I really needed someone to take my mind away for a bit."
Poku "Oh, you're welcome!"
Ziku "Sorry, can you do me one more favor if you don't mind."
Poku "Sure Ziku."
Ziku "Can you deliver these to the other girls, mainly so I don't have to?"
Poku "Wow, so fast and yet so lazy. Who else needs one?"
Ziku "Umm Yumi, Kireina, Haruna, Mikoto, Mireko, and Chiori."
Poku "My gosh, you uhh got quite the invitations left."
Ziku "Haha thank you so much Poku!"
Poku "Wait Ziku..."
Ziku leaves using his speed, leaving just a gust a wind that knocks Poku on the ground.
Poku "Ouch, that hurt."
Mest "What's wrong Kame?"
Kame "Nothing, just a bit excited and can not stop thinking."
Mest "About?"
Kame: "My friends, they still train. Not one of them has wavered from their will."
Mest "Ah I see."
Kame "I am excited to see how strong everyone is when I really go back!"
Mest "You truly are a warrior first. Guess you get that from dad."
Kame: "Huh?"
Mest "Your dad, you must get that quality from your dad."
Kame "Oh, yeah, maybe."
Mest "Anyways, let's get moving, we're almost there."
Kame "Right."
Some time would pass and the both of them arrive at their destination.
Mest "What happened here?!"
Kame "This place…. It is completely destroyed."
Mest rushes down to a pile of rubble and just starts digging and moving everything frantically. By the time he gets to the bottom of the pile he starts to tear up as he grabs a bracelet from the ground and a few strands of hair.
Kame "Are you ok?"
Mest closes his eyes and then stands to his feet wiping his eyes.
Mest "Part of me wants to just give up, right here and now. It's just so hard to. The biggest part also knows that I have to keep going, for your sake Kame."
Kame "For my sake?"
Mest " As life goes on, it gets harder to keep going unless you find your reasons too. It seems like I just lost almost all of mine."
Kame doesn't know what to say as he just stands there staring at Mest. Mest falls back to his knees and just begins to punch the ground. He starts creating shockwaves that are pushing Kame back. Mest comes to an abrupt stop as he hears a voice in his head.
Female voice "Come to me, come to us. We are not that far apart since I can sense you. Just please hurry!"
Mest "I don't know where to go!"
Female voice "Follow your heart and you will find us."
Mest "Kame follow me!"
Kokiruko " Please tell me you're ok?"
Kokimina " I don't want to lie to you, but I don't think I have much time left."
Kokiruko "But it's all over! I stopped him!"
Kokimina "Yes, you did. I'm so proud of you."
Kokiruko starts to cry as he grabs her hand. She caresses his face and then she starts to cry.
Kokimina "Look at your face, you body. You didn't deserve this and I'm sorry."
Kokiruko "First mom, now you."
Kokimina "Kokiruko please."
Kokiruko "What am I going to do without you?"
Kokimina "Your are strong and very smart. You will figure it out."
Kokiruko "Who is here?"
Kokimina "It's Mest, calm down."
Kokiruko "How do you know?!"
Kokimina "I just know."
Mest and Kame walk in and see Kokiruko with electricity emitting from his body.
Kokimina "Koki stop! Don't do it, they aren't your enemies!"
Kokiruko "Why are you here?!"
Mest "Just calm down."
Kokiruko "Don't tell me to calm down! Don't take another step! Don't do anything! Or I will kill you too!"
Kokimina "Kokiruko I said stop! You're my little brother and we've been through so much already and I don't have much time left so just stop!"
Kokiruko finally calms down as he just falls to the floor. Mest walks over to Kokimina and kisses her forehead. Kokimina smiles and caresses his face.
Kokimina "He's here."
Mest "I know, I'm both happy and sad about this."
Kokimina "Other than me saying it, you can sense it huh?"
Mest "Yes."
Kokimina "Well, where do I start? I'm going to miss you. We never really got to start our lives together. You came and you went, but I enjoyed even the little time I got to spend with you."
Mest "I love you."
Kokimina tears up while smiling.
Kokimina "I love you too."
Mest grabs the baby and hugs him. When he looks down he sees Kokimina just smiling even harder.
Kokimina "I didn't know you could get even more handsome. That is something I would never get tired of seeing."
Mest "You truly love the simple things in life."
Kokimina "That is why I fell for you. Mest can you do me a favor?"
Mest "Anything."
Kokimina "Kiss me one more time."
Mest leans in for a kiss. As they are kissing both of them have a single tear shed and Kokimina's chi fades. Both Kame and Kokiruko in shock as to what they just saw. Both of them also having tears in their eyes. Mest stands up holding his baby as he hugs them real tight and walks past Kame not saying another word. Kame falls to one knee, as Kokiruko just walks past him as well not caring for what he could be going through.
Kokiruko "Hey, where do you think you're going with the baby?"
Mest" What are you fighting me for the custody of my own child?"
Kokiruko "Yes, I am. You were never around in the first place! She was my sister! You don't deserve to have the baby, even if it is yours!"
Mest " I loved her, therefore I will forever love this child. As a favor to your sister, I want you to come with me and Kame."
Kokiruko "No! Give me the baby, I will take care of them. We are better off alone anyway!"
Mest places his hand on Kokiruko's head and just leaves it there.
Kokiruko "So fast, I didn't even see him move. Even if I wanted to, I won't be able to lay on finger on him."
Kokimina "Koki please, just trust him."
Kokiruko "Is that?!"
Kokimina "Yes, it's me. I've allowed my essence of life to live just a bit longer. I did this only for you. Only you can hear me."
Kokiruko "But why?"
Kokimina "Because I want you to trust him, I want you to go with him. I know that I left you and I'm sorry, but you still don't have to be alone. Mest will take care of you I promise. I just need to be strong and finally be happy."
Kokiruko "Ok."
Kokimina "Ok?"
Mest "There is no way for you to trust me, but I want to tell you that your sister was the world to me. I will do everything I can for you."
Kokiruko "Ok."
Mest "Ok?"
Kokiruko nods his head and starts to think to himself.
Kokiruko "I believe you Mina, I'm going to miss you. Now all of my family has left me."
Mest "Kame, you ok?"
Kame just nods his head and starts walking off.
Mest "Uhh Kame, we have to to go the opposite way."
Both Kame and Kokiruko head in the same direction, both are just depressed as they walk in front of Mest. After walking for some time, Mest starts to sense malicious intent. As he's trying to pinpoint where it's coming from he also senses overwhelming power.
Mest "What is this?! Separate they aren't stronger than me, but the combined power is something else!"
Before anything else three people appear in front of Kame and Kokiruko. As they just come from darkness. Kame gets into his stance and Kokiruko gets scared. Mest appears in front of them holding his baby.
Zaki "Ahh congratulations, a shame the baby or you will not survive."
Mest "They just keep coming!"
Zeraki "No one makes it out of this alive."
Mest puts the baby in Kokiruko's hands and then asks Kame to stand back and make sure nothing happens to them as he is the last resort if he can't be there.
Zaki "Let's do this!"
Zaki rushes towards Mest.
Zeraki "Zaki no!"
Zaki tries to punch Mest, but just gets countered and punched to the ground going under.
Mest "That looks good on you, I'll be sure to lay you to rest there when I'm done."
Zaki "You arrogant bitch!"
Zeraki "I was telling you to wait, this one isn't a push over. Yes we are here to kill him, but it will not be easy!"
Zaki "So go full power?!"
Zeraki "That still will not help you, we need to fight him together."
Zaki "Tch! No! I can do this on my own!"
Zeraki "I'm asking you to just let me help you."
Zaki "Ah! I don't need it! I can do this on my own! Just shutup and stay out of this fight!"
Inel "If you do not help him, he will die."
Zeraki "I know, but Zaki just has too much pride."
Inel "What is worse shattering his pride, or losing a brother. You do as you see fit and I will act accordingly."
Zeraki then gets next to Zaki as they both stars down Mest. Zaki slowly looks over at Zeraki and then closes his eyes. He thinks to himself, knowing Zeraki won't let him fight alone and he might as well just allow it. Both of them continue to stare down Mest as he does the same to them.
Zeraki "On my mark."
Zaki "Whatever."
Inel "Tch!"
Zeraki blitzes towards Mest and it catches him off guard.
Mest "He's faster!"
Mest barely moves out of the way, but when Zeraki touched the ground it starts to decay.
Mest" What?! That power?! What is it?!"
Zeraki "Never have I ever had to explain it, no one has ever dodged it."
Mest" No one?! Just how many people have you hurt or killed with that?!"
Zeraki "You're focused on the wrong thing, it shouldn't be how many people have I killed. It should be if I will kill you."
In the same instant of him saying this, he appears again in front of Mest. Mest can't completely dodge, but he avoids destined death. Instead of his face Zeraki touches his shoulder. Mest's shoulder turns black, but before anything can happen he stabs himself with a knife in his vein.
Zeraki "Tch! How did you-"
Kame "Mest!"
Mest "I'm fine, just stay where you are."
Zaki kicks Mest to the ground and when he bounces back up he gets captured by Inel's binding strings.
Mest" What is this?! Why can't I move?!"
Inel " The more you struggle, the tighter they get."
When Mest realizes his situation, he realizes too late, as when he looks up he sees Zeraki about to touch him and there's nothing he can do. Zeraki with a sinister smile as Mest just looks helpless.
When Mest puts his head down, he hears a loud cracking noise. He looks up and sees Kame punching Zeraki in the ribs, breaking them and Zeraki coughing up blood.
Inel "Zeraki!"
When Inel yells, Mest can feel the binding twitch, so when he feels it, he breaks out of it and charges towards Inel. He takes him out, leaving him out of the fight.
Zaki "Inel! Zeraki!"
Zeraki "So what?! You think you're stronger than me?!"
Zeraki charges Kame with his hand out, but before he can touch him; Mest grabs his arm breaks it and then kicks Zeraki away.
Zaki "This shit ends!"
Both Zaki and Zeraki unleash their aura, the dark fiery light of their power just emitting from them. When Mest sees this, he moves Kame to the side and then flexes all his muscles. Mest takes a deep breath closes his eyes and then exhales slowly.
Mest "Niju Tetsu!"
Mest's entire body emitting this golden-ish aura as only one of his eyes can remain open and he breathes in and out heavily.
Kame "Mest?"
Mest "I'm fine, just don't get in the way this time."
Mest looks over at Kokiruko holding his baby.
Mest "10 minutes."
Kame stares at Mest and is amazed by the technique. As he's staring he hears movement behind him. When he looks, he sees Inel trying to get back up. Kame rushes over to him and grabs Inel's arm and puts it behind his back along with Kame putting his knee to Inel's back.
Inel "Tch! Get off me!"
Kame doesn't say anything and just stares at Inel.
Inel "Tch! You brat! I said get off!"
Kame grips his arm tighter, and it makes this cracking sound.
Inel "AAAAAAAAAA!"
Kame "You will stay here until I decide to let go of you."
After Kame says this, he looks up to see Zaki and Zeraki ambushing him trying to save Inel. Mest stops both of them and begins fighting them. Kame can only look in amazement. As Mest is fighting Zaki and Zeraki, they hear him keep saying numbers to himself and they notice it is a countdown or timer for something. Zeraki being the smartest of them, realizes that he can't keep that pace for too long and decides to fight in order to stall. Zaki continues to press forward, but Zeraki only goes on the defensive. He starts to get too defensive and realizes that neither him or Zaki could fight with Mest on their own. He then proceeds to do both offense and defense the best he could in order to stall.
Mest "5 minutes left, I have to finish this."
Mest continues to fight and is the clear winner in majority of the fight.
Zeraki "I see, it's working."
Mest and Zaki clash, but with Mest having the final blow as he head-butts him to the ground. When Zeraki jumps in Mest is fighting to avoid his left hand, only countering hits from his right and just dodging his left entirely. Zeraki goes for vitals, but Mest just grabs his arms, pulls him in close and knees him in the face twice before pulling him close head-butting him as well and tossing him to the ground. Mest falls to one knee and starts to hyperventilate faster with his veins bulging.
Mest "I don't understand! I have two minutes left! Even so, why is the pain so severe right now?!"
Zeraki stands to his feet along with Zaki as they are both hurt, but smiling.
Mest "Tch! What?!"
Zaki "That glow of yours is all gone."
Mest looks at his body in disbelief as he also sees his skin on certain parts of his body are dark. Those parts being his shoulder, chest, right hip, and his right wrist.
Mest "What?! But how?! I avoided your left arm!"
Zeraki "You did , and you did well at that, but in this form I can switch destined death between hands."
Mest eyes get big as he struggles to hold his knife, he starts to stab himself in those areas, but this time it just halts and doesn't go away. As he just starts to bleed out.
Zeraki "It's no use, you got marked with death. The only way to stop it is to kill me."
Mest "Tch!"
Mest falls to the ground and starts to hyperventilate. Trying his hardest to calm down and move his body even just an inch. Zeraki and Zaki slowly walk by Mest.
Zeraki "Get off Inel!"
Kame "You are going to have to do more than that to get me off."
Inel starts to scream more because Kame squeezes his forearm harder. Zaki tries to go over to help, but Zeraki places his hand on him and shakes his hand no. Zeraki engulfs his hand with the curse and slowly walks over to Kame. Kokiruko hiding himself holding the baby as he starts to panic not knowing what is going to happen or if he should do anything.
Kokiruko "Even if I try something, if he is no match for them, what the hell can I do?!"
Zeraki looks down at Kame and just stares at him.
Zeraki "You cower in fear, I can see it."
Kame just continues to tremble while holding Inel.
Zaki "What are you waiting for kill hi-"
Zeraki looks back and sees Mest fist through Zaki's chest and the same golden glow around him.
Zaki "Y-you bastard!"
Zaki coughs up blood and then falls to the ground.
Zeraki's face completely changes and becomes almost unrecognizable. It goes from looking nonchalant, to looking demonic and disfigured. He tries to quickly turn around and mark Kame, but by that point Kame has already moved. Unable to mark Kame, Zeraki angers even more and just ends up letting out this demonic scream, but as he screams Mest jumps at him about to punch him. Before he can land the hit, a huge wave of energy comes out of the scream and pushes everyone away. After the scream Zeraki goes over to Inel and picks him over his shoulder. Then goes to Zaki's body and grabs him by the wrist dragging him. A dark portal opens and he takes them in. Before he completely disappears he looks over at Kame and makes eye contact with him. Kame's body gets heavy as he just stares back and then the portal closes.
Kokiruko runs over to Kame and Mest and then kneels down next to both of them. Mest opens both of his eyes to see his child still ok. He thanks Kokiruko and then looks over at Kame. Kame is just kneeling and twitching, his body still heavy as the stare from Zeraki is just molted in his head. His eyes are big and his heart is pounding. Mest crawls over to him using only his right arm. Before Kame can start hyperventilating Mest grabs his shoulder and tells him to calm down. Just those words don't work as it seems Kame starts to hyperventilate anyway. Mest with every ounce of strength he has, struggles to get to one knee. When he does he grabs Kame and hugs him. When Kame gets hugged, he snaps out of it, and right as he snaps out of it Mest let's go and starts to fall.
Kame "Mest!"
Mest " I have somewhere to take you. It's sooner than I wanted but I-"
Kame "Mest?! Mest?!"
Ava "So how did it go inviting everyone?"
Ziku " l invited everyone I could, Poku said she would do the rest for me."
Ava "Poku?"
Ziku "Yeah, oh that's right. Most of the people invited you have not met yet. I guess that's why this is important."
Ava "Guess you're right."
Ziku "It never occurred to me just how small Poku is."
Aiko " How is she?"
Ziku "She looks fine, she was pretty happy to find out about the party."
Aiko "Can't wait to see her."
Ava "Let's just hope everyone actually shows up."
Ziku "Well Kame isn't going to be here."
Ava "Kame?"
Ziku "Yeah he wasn't invited."
Aiko "Isn't it because he isn't here?"
Ziku "Oh yeah."
Ava "Where is he?"
Ziku "Outside."
Ava "Outside doing what?"
Ziku "Fighting some strong guys."
Ava "Why didn't you help."
Ziku "Oh I did, it's all over now."
Ava "Then what is he doing now Ziku?!"
Ziku "I…don't…know."
Ava "We just went in a circle didn't we?"
Ziku "We didn't move."
Ava looks over at Aiko who is just confused and blinking not knowing what just happened."
Airi "I don't think you should go to the party."
Aiko "Why not?"
Ava "Huh? Who are you-"
Ziku "So how has it been for you so far."
Ava "Huh? But did you hear Aiko?"
Aiko "Huh?"
Ziku gets nervous because he ends up sensing a huge amount of chi.
Ava "So Aiko who were you-"
Ziku "Wait!"
Ava "What's wrong?"
Ziku "Someone is here."
Aiko "Are you sure?"
Ziku "Yes, wait here."
Ava "You don't have to go out there Ziku."
Ziku "Someone has to. If they attack first we're in trouble."
When Ziku goes outside, he dashes out, so out of nowhere they just see him disappear with a lightning trail following. Ava goes after him without hesitation and when she gets outside she just sees Ziku looking around confused.
Ava "Ziku?"
Ziku "I don't know, there was definitely someone."
Ava "You must have scared them off."
Ziku "Yeah, maybe."
Aiko "Is it safe?"
Ziku "Yeah, for now anyways."
Ava "What if we get attacked during the party?
Ziku "I honestly haven't thought about that. I was too excited to see everyone again all together that it slipped my mind that anything like that could happen and in a blink we could all be-"
Before he finishes his sentence he looks over at Aiko to see her looking down sad. He walks over to her and places his hand on her arm.
Ziku "You ok Aiko?"
Aiko "I.. I'm fine. Just the thought of something like that happening is horrible."
Ziku "I know, but don't worry I've been training!"
He says with a smile and then looks over at Ava.
Ziku "And you."
Ava "Huh, me?"
Ziku "The way you came out here, you weren't afraid."
Ava "I know, my body just moved after you; it's not that I thought you couldn't handle it because I'm one to talk. I can't really explain why I went after you, it's like my body just feels safe around you and fear was just nothing to me."
Ziku "I get the whole body moving on its own thing, but why do you feel so safe around me when you barely know me?"
Ava "That's what I don't get, I had no fear in me following you. I saw you go out with no hesitation and I guess I just wanted to do the same. I wanted to be strong like you."
Ava starts blushing as she looks down to the ground.
Ziku "You can be."
Ava "I can't, I'm nothing like you guys. All of you are strong and so confident."
Ziku "Be honest with me."
Ava "Huh?"
Ziku "What do you feel when you're around us?"
Ava "What do I feel? Umm I don't know, I haven't really thought about it."
Ziku just stares at her with a serious face. Ava blushed again and then looks away swiftly.
Ava "Oh my, why does he have to look at me like that?!"
Ziku continues to stare and then Ava takes a deep breath and looks at him into his eyes.
Ava "I feel admiration, trust, empathy, and love."
Ziku walks up to her and looks her in her eyes.
Ava "Why does he have to make eye contact?!"
As her heart starts to beat.
Ziku "Then you are like us. As far as being strong, you have to want to be. Strength to me comes from wanting to protect everyone. My strength is driven off the purpose of having those I care about see a better future."
Ava "I see, that's something that would make me happy. Seeing everyone else happy and living their lives."
Ziku "So become strong, become stronger with all of us. So that we all can make sure it happens."
Aiko not having anything to say just continues to stand there and stare.
Ava starts to cry, but before her tears can fall to the ground Ziku wipes them.
Ziku "You don't have to cry, we all feel this way."
Ava "I know, but I just wish I can become strong. If I don't, I don't know how I'll be able to protect our future."
Ziku "I can train you."
Ava "Train me?"
Ziku "Yeah, I'll introduce you to Cayde and we can train together."
Ava "You would want to train someone as weak as me?"
Ziku "I want to watch you become strong."
Ava just stares at Ziku into his eyes and begins to turn red all over. His smile giving her a sense of freedom that she hasn't felt since being with her family.
Aiko "I want to train too!"
Ziku and Ava look over at Aiko in shock.
Ziku "I…this is my first time hearing you yell. You mean it huh?"
Aiko "Yes. Please train me too."
Ziku smiles and then nods his head.
Ziku "After our party it's time to get strong!"