Years later, Lilly now proceeded to view the Sydney Opera House as a memory she would cherish but never experience in dejavu. Only hours ago, she was face to face with what she assumed was the devil that evoked a powerful human body. Her ally and new friend, Investigator Volpe, had been there earlier as a knight in shining armor to this other fighter known as Crista Smith. It seems Volpe had underestimated his opponent out to kill Crista for having connections with his arch rival Wai Lim and should have died for it… 'should have' being the key words. Lilly thought she was the only hidden character in the deep woods, but it seems Wai Lim also seemed concealed for a certain time. No one would have guessed him present if Man Sei didn't roar his name after the quick disappearance of Crista. -But Wai Lim left Volpe to his enemy's hands and Lilly assumed that was her entrance cue.

Now as Volpe and Lilly proceed through the woods to some sort of civilization they were greeted by what seemed to be more warriors that missed the Man Sei scene.
"Whose there!" Lilly yelled more than asked. She gripped her flute ready to spring into action. Volpe, beaten and bruised badly, attempted a fighting stance. Lilly peered carefully around her…she saw no one, but her instincts never lied to her.
"Come out now!" Lilly ordered once again. She glanced over at her tired and worn ally. She would have to protect them both, but she accepted the challenge.
"I must say," a stern female voice said from behind the two. Lilly whipped her head around a glance away from attacking the stranger.
"Whoa, whoa…" Another female voice said sitting calmly in a nearby tree. Lilly examined the two carefully. The girl standing only feet away undetected at first seemed to also stand next to a brownish white wolf.
 

Lilly had never seen a wolf so beautiful before. -And the squirrel stood a top this wolf's head with no sign of fear in mind. Obviously the girl's pets that she travels around with. -But the girl in the tree smiled yet her black overcoat and smile seemed a contradiction.
"We come thee in peace," Volpe stated with his fingers parted similar to the old re-runs of Mork and Mindy he watched continuously.

The two female strangers offered the investigator a strange look. Lilly slightly grinned,
"One thing is for sure. Your no enemies…"
"How do you assume so quickly?" Iwa asked slowly approaching the musically inclined girl. Never once has she seen a fighter that uses music as a weapon. So the saying goes, it is the 90's… anything is possible. Lilly spoke up,
"If you were enemies you would have fought us by now." Kumori and Iwa exchanged glances and smiled. "You are correct!" Kumori smiled as she floated away from the branch sitting in the same position until she carefully stood a cautious yard away from the intelligent flute girl.

"Hey! Wait a minute!" Volpe cried out. Before another word was uttered he snatched old Polaroids from his pocket.
"Iwa! Kumori!" He yelped.
"Yeah," the two both said in unison.
"Finally!" Volpe yelled and sighed at the same time, "I've been looking all over for you two pretty ladies." Kumori giggled at the man's enthusiasm as Iwa still looked unimpressed.

Lilly bowed to the two women,
"My name is Lilly Yin." The two women viewed her sign of respect and nodded back. "I wish you two were here earlier. All together we would have taken on that evil, creepy dude…" Lilly now relaxed also expressed it in her change in diction.
"We saw…" Iwa spoke still in a monotone voice.
"Then why didn't you save me?!" Volpe asked.
"Didn't you try to save that other girl?" Kumori questioned the investigator. Volpe looked off.
"Try…" he repeated. "She's safe…" Lilly announced to the three. They all looked at her as if it were news to their ears.

"I saw the man whom carried her away. He knew what he was doing." Kumori and Volpe nodded relaxed to know the other woman was safe. Iwa, though, didn't take her eyes off her. Lilly looked back at the pensive thinker.
"You know, I can't read your mind…"
Iwa nodded,
"I know…" Lilly just wanted to clear that up. She turned to Volpe, but before she got a word in…
"You radiate a different sort of energy, Lilly," Iwa spoke up. Lilly looked back at the bronze Chinese fighter, "Eh?"
"The energy of Life…" Iwa softly spoke. The flute player smiled and took the comment as a compliment,
"Thank you very much… but… I'm afraid your wrong."
"How?" Iwa asked.
"Give it short time," Lilly began, "-And my own life's energy will cease."
 

'Faster! Faster!' the sporty dressed man pounded into his mind. He, gifted with over average human abilities (who isn't in this story?), flew many feet above the forested floor yet below the canopy top… he knew if he flew too high Man Sei would spot and kill him that instant. Afraid and paranoid, he fled even farther.

He thought of teleporting, but no… Teleporting with the woman he saved would drain enough of her energy to put her in a coma. In his arms lied a tattered, bruised and beaten young woman. Her scrunchie she usually wore in her hair now became non-existent and her long flowing brown hair became an annoyance as it whipped Night in the face the faster he raced. -But Night had always liked long hair on women.

Her red leotard had so many tears, one could have started a fashion statement with the shirt. Her black baggy pants were torn and possessed many holes.
"Gomen, Crista," Night began, "I brought you in on this. It's me he's after."

His voice remained calm even though he was a thread away from screaming himself,
"Don't worry, I won't let him ever hurt you again…" This was a promise he intended to keep. He hoped she heard his words even though her eyes were shut tighter than a jammed locker. Her body, safely cradled in his arms, seemed an exact opposite as her mind was far from her body and far from the earth for that matter.

~~~ 

"S-Stop! Don't you remember who I am?! Your hurting me! STOP IT!!!" Crista yelped shaking. Too late, Crista was sent flying through her own two story bed room window and fell for the longest time into the running river below. "NOOOO!!!" She cried out reaching out toward dead air. She knew the impact would be fatal and probably kill her… at a time like this, she even hoped it would…

[Flash] Crista floated bobbing up and down like some lost bottle to land. [Flash] The banks of the shore were icy and barren. They supported a near dying soul. She wanted to die. She wished it's forcing hand would grip her soul and take it from her body…
"P-Please…" she begged softly, "Take me away from here… take me …"
[Flash] "Nurse! Bring this patient to OR STAT!"
"Doctor, shouldn't we run a standardized CBC and medical check to see if-"
"We don't have time! This girl should have been dead days ago!"

[Flash] "Excuse me little girl… a name please…" The young girl looked up at the room full of doctors, nurses and psychologists. She hated all these people's nosy eyes on here. She also hated questions she didn't know the answers to. She briefly skimmed one of the badges. For not speaking in days, the room was even surprised by her stuttering.
"Cris…Cris…" "Christie?" One asked.

The young girl shook her head. "Crystal?" Asked another. She shook her head more violently this time. "Christina?" She frowned and shook her head causing her long brown pony tail to whip and sting her face. "C-Crista?" asked on. -At that name, she stopped and stared seriously at the person whom uttered the name. "C-Crista…" she repeated slowly. The entire room nodded pleased. After a brief intermission of joy, a doctor looked back at the patient,
"-And a last name?" The newly named young girl stared at the person… she quickly looked at his name badge, "Smith…"

As Night carefully applied the cold compress toward her warm face he carefully pushed back her hair dangling bangs and blushed a little as he noticed her flickering closed eyes,
"She's dreaming…" -Even when she was passed out and motionless, it was just of an impact as if she were fighting Crimson earlier. As Night went back outside the abandoned cottage to get more water from the stream, he thought pensively.

He knew Man Sei wouldn't waste so much of his time fighting these quote on quote insignificants when he knew his true rival was nearby. He turned to look back at the cottage. He had to watch out for Crista, now. It was his fault she experienced what she did. He heard Man Sei talk about how she was to die because he, himself, had marked her.
"What the hell was he talking about?" Night asked himself frowning.

After the sun had set, the eldest member of his generation in the Yip family finally decided to check back on his damsel. Whoa, he shouldn't call her that, she might Phoenix him or something uncomfortable. Even though he wouldn't mind being roughen up by her-
"Shut-up …" Night scolded to himself as he entered the one room cottage.

The lighting was low so Man Sei wouldn't find them. Truthfully, he flew so far in such a short time he knew Man Sei wouldn't find him even if there was a huge glowing arrow pointing the cottage out. Night carefully placed the pure water down on the table and looked over at Crista.
"W-What?!" Night exclaimed,
"Where is-" SMACK! Night fell straight to the ground before he uttered the next word. He glanced up above him seeing a foot flying in his direction.

He quickly dodged, grabbed the foot and leaped up throwing the attackers foot above their head. {Dammit! I just leave for one second and we're being attacked again!} The attacker used the direction they flew in to their advantage by flipping backwards landing on both feet. This face was hidden by the shadows of the cottage.

"W-Whose there?" Night asked. The figure didn't respond.
"Dammit.. answer the question!" He piped up. He knew this character wasn't Man Sei. Man Sei wouldn't have hid from him in the beginning, no matter how brief. In the darkness the figure brought both arms in a cross. Night squinted to see the person's actions.

The figure began muttering a chant in some foreign Asian tongue. {Prepare yourself!} he thought to himself. "BLAST!" The figure yelled interrupting the dead silence and tension between the two with her leaping forward aiming a ball of chi at his throat. Night's eyes widened,
"Crista?" He grabbed her forearm the last second before the chi hit him. The force ended up knocking him over to the ground.

She still remained over him radiating a ball of chi where her fist should be. He sighed and leaned his head back with his arm still gripped around her powerful forearm. Crista hesitated with shock. {This man didn't even bother to counter!} She knew, then, he indeed was the man that had saved her.
 

"W-Who are you?" She questioned getting up and a good distance away from him. Night got up himself and brushed himself off. Crista stood, her fist of chi now vanished back into her. Her injured arm remained close to her covering up her injured rib.
"Oh gawed!" Night gasped, "You fought me yet your still wounded! Forget about me, you shouldn't even be standing up!" Night made his way over to her. She, instead, lunged forward and gripped his neck,
"Answer the gawed damn question!" Her eyes soul still held the fire she always possessed, but her body couldn't take it anymore. Night, instead, refused to stop the hand gripped tightly around his neck. He saw into her soul through her eyes. They searched for answers, but their was a mysterious secret she kept hidden.

After moments of face to face staring, she collapsed before Night answered her question. He caught her the second she lost her balance.
"C-Crista…" he muttered. He looked at the weakened warrior.
-Even when she was in terrible shape she fought with all her heart. He smiled as he carried her back over to the bed.
"I'm a friend…" he answered.
"Obviously…" she added weakly adjusting herself once she laid back down on it.
"You need rest," he spoke drenching the wash cloth in the water and applying it to her face. Crista, too weak to push his help away, closed her eyes briefly but then stared up at Night for the longest time. He wondered if she was reading his mind… gawed knows how long he was blushing.
"M-My arm…" she finally spoke up.

Night took his reluctant his eyes away from hers and onto her arm. He wasn't a doctor, but he knew that's not how it's supposed to look.
"Grab it…" she quietly ordered,
"-around the triceps and forearm." He followed her orders,
"Don't you want me to take off your forearm guards?"
"No… I've never take them off infront of others." Night nodded getting a good grip on her arm.
"Now…" she said with a deep breath,
"Jerk my arm down until you hear a pop."
 

"W-What is this place?" Lilly asked. It was almost a day after she had met Volpe, Iwa and Kumori. The four tired warriors now stood facing the entrance to what seemed like a very huge training school.
"T-This is the place that Volpe said to go to, right?" Kumori asked. Iwa nodded as she adjusted Volpe whom was slung over her shoulder. The guy passed out only moments after Lilly admitted her secret. They all assumed because of his fight with Man Sei.

"There's only one way to find out," Lilly commented as she knocked on the ancient Chinese doors. After minutes of silence…
"Ok, I've waited enough…" Iwa said adjusting a happy sleeping Volpe. Crimson walking on his way to greet the unexpected visitors yawned and rubbed his eyes
"Damn Volpe… I swear I knew he would take every advantage of our friendship on this mission."

BOOM! The sound stood as a real wake up call.
"Who the hell could be breaking into a dojo at 4 am?!" His question would be soon answered. Crimson stood opposite of the entrance where the doors stood. He was ready to take on anyone to protect the school that he loved training in.

After the smoke of the blast had faded three figures stealthy proceeded forward. Crimson spotted the middle figure that walked before the other two, {Damn! They're all female fighters! This sucks!!} Crimson bit his lip shortly after getting a good view of the middle woman,
"V-Volpe?!"
Iwa nodded. Crimson didn't know whether to fear the girls or ask them to capture him too.
"Crimson!" a distant voice called from behind. Crimson recognized the voice,
"Master Guy! Come here quick!" Seven seconds later.
"Who are you?" Guy asked standing beside Crimson.
"-And why is Volpe so lucky?" Crimson asked.

Guy quickly elbowed his student.
"Hey… I'm just…" The girls sadly shook their head.
"I think your girlfriend called," Guy muttered aside to Crimson.
"Oh gawed! I knew I forgot something!" Crimson yelled turning around and heading back. Guy stepped forward, "Well… I know your not enemies. You must be the girls the investigator searched for." Kumori nodded and stepped forward,
"A couple hours ago Volpe tracked down another girl. Her name is Crista Smith, but she was being attacked by Man Sei at the time."
"Who?" Guy asked.

"Man Sei…" Lilly began. "He has appeared out of no where and has been raging hell all over Asia. No one knows why. Rumor has it, his rival is roaming Asia also. -But I believe it was his rival that rescued Crista seconds before Man Sei released a power that blew me away even though I was at a safe distance…" Kumori and Iwa agreed with her. Guy thought intently, he never remembered someone nor even heard the name of Man Sei.

"10,000 deaths… what a cute name…" Guy muttered. He finally looked over at the man slung over one of the woman's shoulders,
"He looks badly beaten."
"He is…" Lilly agreed.
"We have a minor infirmary here. After all, accidents do happen at a training hall."
"Good, I'll come with you," Lilly offered quickly. Guy took the lightly snoring Volpe and slung him over his shoulder, "Follow me then." He turned to the other two,
"If you walk forward, you'll come to the main hall. Enter that and the double doors on the right lead to a long hallway. The first door on the right is the dining hall. There should atleast be fruit set out." Kumori and Iwa nodded making their way toward the dining area.

Lilly and Guy made their way to the infirmary.
"Is this all you know about Man Sei?" Guy asked the woman carrying the flute. Lilly nodded, "That's at least what Volpe was telling me in between his black outs." "What about this Crista girl… do you have idea where she could be?"

"None what-so-ever. -But I know she's in safe hands for now." "That's good. I'll ask Crimson to search for her the moment Volpe is rested and well again. This Man Sei person sounds powerful, but not unbeatable." Lilly nodded, "Very well… I'm sure the two won't mind having three girls tagging along, then." Guy smiled, "I'm sure they'll encourage it."

^^^

Crista, running at top speed, leaped into the air concentrating hard on her opponent. During her concentration she collected within her palms large amounts of internal energy. She twisted her body position and came down face to face with her opponent. The second she stepped down she thrusted her chi infront of her, "Blast!!" She paused holding her finishing action pose and then sighed as she stood back up.

She stared at her opponent, actually it was a tree, and smiled. She hadn't made a hole that big in it's bark before. "You know, I'm sure I can find an axe here somewhere." Crista turned around. "I thought I was the only one awake at 5:30am." "-And miss you beating up on trees? Never…" Night added. Crista turned around and walked back inside, "-Just felt like waking up quickly…" "You heal fast," Night added closing the door after she came back inside.

"Naw…I'm still in pain." "Your arm looks as if it was never dislocated." "It still hurts a little." "I'll massage your shoulder then." "You really don't-" her speech was interrupted when he grabbed both her shoulders.
He motioned her to sit down. Crista grabbed an apple and started munching. {Damn…he's pretty good at this.} "Your tense…" he commented. "Who wouldn't be after getting your ass kicked by some psycho monster?" Crista asked. Night smiled, "Yeah… don't take it personally, though. He's not after you."

"I swear!" Crista began and she slammed her clenched fist on the table, "Once I find that Wai Lim guy! I'm gonna strangle him!" Night eased up his massage. He spoke with a dry throat, "Umm….why?" "Well… for one, he marked me… and I was going to die because of it. Two, if this is guy obviously his rival then he is equal if not better than him." Night, now, stepped closer to her interested, "Can you explain that?" "Well…" Crista began after another bite, "Obviously Man Sei is a natural killer. -And a main reason I'm assuming why is because of some past ordeal that he probably couldn't beat this Wai Lim character at."

"That's… a very plausible explanation…" Night added. "Plausible yes… now my question is why won't this Way Lim character fight Man Sei. I'm sure it would be a challenging fight, but Man Sei has one too many flaws that can prevent him from winning a fight with a skilled peer. His emotion take control of his skills and abilities. Man Sei's rival must be his exact opposite. He for sure must have as much a skill and capability if not more. He probably has more self control than him. -And he probably has a great potential to go beyond the boundaries that Man Sei can only dream to pass." Night, still rubbing her shoulders, stared down captivated at the young woman by her unconscious compliments toward him, "Thanks…" He smiled, but his entire face was blushing red.

"Ah ha!" Crista jumped up and faced him, "I knew it! You are Way Lim!" Night tried to, but couldn't hide his blush. He was never good at cloaking emotions. He sighed, "-But please don't call me that… only he calls me that. Night or Brian… which-ever you prefer. Besides, didn't you hear him call after me?" Crista shook her head no, "I was passed out before you even swept me away. Your rival is uncontrollable and can be beaten, but his form of martial arts was too quick to analyze."

Night nodded, "We both study similar arts… they're secret arts… never once shown to the world. You are probably one of the first that has suffered from them." "Then answer me this… aren't you going to do anything to stop Man Sei so more won't suffer or maybe even die like I almost did?" Night looked carefully at his newest friend. Her piercing eyes made him forget his answer. Yet, he couldn't help, but focus his attention toward her and enjoy forgetting when he stared into her deep eyes. He only wished he could forget like this more often.

^^^

"Last boarding call for flight 4239! All passengers should be aboard now!" The stewardesses nodded and began to shut the doors. Some families were lined among the window hoping to get a glance of their beloved ones before they took off to different corners of the globe. In the distance, though, a woman's voice only became louder as she ran approaching, "WAIT!!!!" The flight attendants stopped in shock.

Victoria, gasping for breath stopped abruptly infront of a steward and thrusted out her ticket, "Here…" The steward in examining the ticket examined her as well, "So… what's in China? Family? Friends?" Victoria grinned lightly taking her part of the ticket from the curious man, "Answers…"

^^^

Iwa sat a top a hill watching the sun set of that very same day she arrived the Bushin dojo training hall. "The sunsets are always kawaii in the strangest places," Kumori added. Iwa smiled and looked up on the branch directly above her. She knew she wasn't there alone. "Uh huh," is all she spoke. "Lilly hasn't left the investigators side for more than half an hour. If she did I would have brought her out here for you to get a better look at her." "No need. I examined her enough. She is definitely one of the nine Essences." "Oh really? Was it life? If anything I'd assume death." "She doesn't deserve death," Iwa spoke still in the same monotone voice.

"She obviously wants to live out the rest of her life… what better essence to suit her then Life?" Kumori nodded, "You still think I'm one?" "Name me anyone that deserves the magic essence more than you?" Kumori giggled and rested her head against the tree. "You remember Lilly mentioning Wai Lim marked Crista?" "Yeah…" "Do you think then…" "That they're Yin and Yang… of course… born to be together… chosen by destiny… like the other seven. There's a natural mark toward that…" Kumori yawned stretching and casually fell upside down. Iwa looked at her bestfriend suspended in air and smiled.