The Will of Fire

38...Conflict Amidst Warriors

*The Sky*
Santo and Itsumi stood on a thick, puffy cloud in the gray evening sky of Japan. Across from them was Taka, floating in the air. Her stare was as cold as ice, and as still as stone.
"There's two of us. One of her. We have to kill her, Prince Sesshomaru's orders." Santo said.
Itsumi looked to her left and saw Kuan still ascending higher into the air, still trapped in the cloud's clutches.
"Keimusho!" Itsumi said, pointing her finger in Kuan's direction.
Suddenly the cloud that held on Kuan, stopped moving upward and came to a halt. More clouds surrounded Kuan, moving in on him quickly.
"What is the meaning of this!?" Kuan shouted, struggling to free himself.
The surrounding clouds attached to the cloud holding Kuan. They surrounded him, keeping him tight and in the center of them all only revealing his head and face.
"What did you just do to him?" Taka asked.
"I used an attack known as Keimusho" Itsumi said. "He won't be going anywhere now. His magic won't get in the way this time. He can't even move."
Keimusho means "Prison". It is a power attack used by Cloud Runners that allows the user to bring clouds to surround the opponent. Once that is done, the clouds close in and attach to the opponent tightly, totally immobilizing them.
Quickly, Taka flew forward at Santo and Itsumi. Her hands shot out repeatedly in front of her, executing an abundance of Airpalms. Atop of the clouds, Santo and Itsumi ran from left to right, right to left, dodging the incoming wind blasts from Taka's palms. Santo jumped through the air, performing many front flips over Taka. Itsumi and Taka clashed, swinging fists and throwing kicks. Taka grabbed Itsumi by the hair and swung her up into the air above her. Taka then flew into the air after her.
"You stay away from her!" Santo shouted.
Santo began hopping from cloud to cloud in pursuit of Taka who went after Itsumi, getting higher and higher on each cloud.
"Damn, she's a fast flyer. Time I kicked into overdrive!" Santo said to himself.
Santo was suddenly propelled higher through the air at top speed. This was due to Santo releasing wind under his feet, and forcing it to push him upward with incredible force. This technique is only unique to Cloud Runners. Aeromancers cannot perform this, due to the fact that they can master the ability of flight, just like Taka. Santo had arrived right in front of Taka, catching her off guard. His eyes looked through her and it sent chills down Taka's spine. Santo quickly began punching Taka in the face a number of five times, following with a quick spin of his arm, delivering a back fist. Taka went spinning like a coin, flying back. Itsumi came soaring down from above on a cloud and began to hover next Santo.
"Get on!" She said.
Santo hopped on the cloud and took off towards Taka with Itsumi.
"Good to see that toss she gave you didn't hurt you." Said Santo.
"Please, it'll take more than being tossed by my hair to take me out. This is our sky. The clouds are one of us, we can never be compromised in the sky." said Itsumi.
Taka shot up higher into the air, trying to get away from Santo and Itsumi.
"Oh, no you don't!" Itsumi said, immediately going after Taka.
"She's trying to get away! Santo, back me up while I get us close to her on this cloud!" Itsumi said.
Santo inhaled deeply through his mouth. When he exhaled, spiraled wind from his mouth went flying at Taka. He shot these out of his mouth repeatedly. Taka valiantly dodged, flying in zig zagged fashions.
"Damn it. They're tailing me. The boy's using Wind Missiles to attack, while the girl directs them towards me. As long as I keep evading and flying higher and higher, I can execute plan b." Taka thought to herself.
Taka flew through the sky, soaring upward as Santo and Itsumi gained on her.

*Senzu Forest, South*
Squad One and Squad Three had been walking for hours. There had been no sign of rivals. As the evening turned to night, they all grew worrisome of the whereabouts of Toneri, Saiaka, Honda and Ganryu.
"They still haven't returned" Soho said to Jared. "You think that they're..."
"Don't say that" interrupted Jared. "I don't want to think the worst."
Luisa marched with Maxi, who panted for air.
"I think we should rest." she said.
Hanzo and Mai who walked in front of both squads had both agreed to this.
"Only for ten minutes. Fifteen at most." Mai said.
Everyone reached in their travel sacks and pulled out water. Everyone guzzled it. Mai gently poured some in a downfall as Hana sipped from it. Jared sat on a log next to Luisa, who was sipping water and giving some to Maxi. He noticed Luisa had a saddened look on her face.
"Jared...you think mom and dad are honestly safe?" She asked.
It had completely slipped Jared's mind that his parents were here in Japan, along with his best friends back at home, Dan and Kevin.
"Why wouldn't they be?" Jared asked Luisa.
Luisa hesitated. She closed her eyes for a few seconds, as images of Makaio flashed in her mind. When she opened her eyes, she looked down at the ground, trying to regain composure.
"I guess I'm just worried for them. I keep thinking of Makaio. Me and Rei had such a hard time fighting him. I'm thinking about Tristin too. What if he's..." Said Luisa.
"Don't doubt mom and dad" Jared said. "And further more, don't doubt Tristin. Don't you dare think he's dead. Do not."
Luisa inhaled and exhaled, trying to calm her nerves.
"I don't mean to doubt mom and dad. But you and I both know what really happened to dad. Makaio is the reason dad has a false eye. Scars that won't go away. All I'm saying is that dad is getting older. And Dan and Kevin wouldn't even stand a chance. I could kill them myself." Said Luisa.
Jared looked up in the night sky, letting Luisa's words run through his mind. He grabbed her shoulder and gripped it firmly.
"Don't doubt mom and dad. I'm telling you" Jared said with seriousness in his tone. "Dan and Kevin were told to stay in The Hakuchō Palace with mom and dad. Not to mention, they're being guarded by some Japanese soldiers."
"Wait. So there's still some soldiers of Japan left that didn't enter war?" Luisa asked.
Jared nodded his head.
"Queen Teikuya ordered some to stay and guard not only the palace, but guard mom, dad, Dan and Kevin. More importantly, Dan and Kevin since they're normal." Jared responded.
Luisa felt a little less worried. She hugged Jared tight and she instantly remembered something so heartbreaking.
"Hey...how are you doing anyways?" she asked him.
Jared separated himself from Luisa and looked away.
"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to...but it'll be better for you if you did" said Luisa. "I know you care for her. And for the life of us, we can't understand why you still do. But it isn't about what me and Tristin feel. Its about you."
Jared still looked away from Luisa.
Don't look at her. If you do, you'll break. Can't let your little sister see you cry.
Luisa moved closer to Jared.
"I know I'm your little sister. But I can still be here for you. Always will be." she said.
Jared felt a single tear roll down his cheek. He wiped it with his sleeve and stood from the log they sat on.
"I'm good, sis." He said, turning to her and giving a thumbs up and smile.
"Oh man, you're actually turning into your sensei, Hanzo" Luisa said while laughing. "That's exactly what he does."
Luisa was right. Smiling and giving a thumbs up was Hanzo's trademark. Jared immediately thought of Hanzo. And then Rashaad.
"You know what. We aren't the only ones going through this" Jared said to Luisa. "Hanzo just found out that Karui is his daughter. And she's in war too, at risk of never returning just as he is. That has to be hard for them. And then Rashaad...his own wife. No one knows where she is, and she's pregnant and close to her due date."
"I had completely forgot" said Luisa. "I really hope Naija is just hiding out somewhere and is okay."
Both Jared and Luisa pushed their feelings to the side, thinking of how Rashaad must feel without Naija. How Hanzo and Karui both feel about being in the war and not on the same squad, or even near each other for that matter. Jared and Luisa walked over to Rashaad who was forming sand in his hand into some sort of shape. When Jared peeked over Rashaad's shoulder, he saw that what Rashaad had formed his sand into was actually a mini sculpture of Naija.
"That is just so sad." Luisa said.
Jared grabbed Rashaad's shoulder.
"I told you we'd find her. I promise." he said to Rashaad, who looked at the mini sculpture in his hand.
"I swear. If Kang has anything to do with her disappearance. I'll kill him with my bare hands." Rashaad said.
"Nobody's stopping you, trust me." Luisa said.
Rashaad controlled the sculpture to collapse in his palm and made a fist before walking away.