**FAMILY GROUNDS**

*fire crackling*

*sobbing, sniffling*

“Mama...why aren’t you coming with me? Why are you staying back?”

“Don’t worry about me, my daughter...I’ll be right behind you. Go on.”

“No! Come with us! What are you waiting for?!”

“...Please, take good care of her for me.”

“Be a good girl...Hayami.”

*gasp*

“Mother-!!”

Hayami woke up. For a moment, she sat up in her bed, breathing a bit heavily and

looking all around her room. Nothing seemed out of place.

“…A dream?” she asked herself.

“I haven’t had that dream since...”

As she tried to rub the sleep from her eyes, she couldn’t help but notice the feeling of

water…tears had been streaming down her eyes.

“…”

“I don’t like this...”

---------------------------------------

**SANJURO MANSION, 9:30AM**

**AUGUST 2, 2012**

Inside the Sanjuro Head’s Mansion, Lady Miri was in the kitchen, looking about

breakfast. She had prepared a meal of blueberry pancakes, eggs, and bacon, along with

hot chocolate. Having just finished up, she was doing the dishes, when her daughter

Gina came downstairs into the kitchen.

“Ohayo, Mama,” she greeted her mother as she stretched and yawned.

*Ohayo means Good Morning in Japanese.*

“You all sure slept soundly. Are your brothers awake?”

“I think Ilmar is, not sure about Jamal,” she responded as she poured a cup of water.

“Good grief…breakfast is getting cold, they should get down here and eat.”

At the same time, in Jamal’s room, he was sprawled out in his bed, sleeping like a rock.

Ilmar came in to wake him up, but to no avail.

“What are you doing, hibernating? Get up J,” he spoke as he shook him and flicked his

forehead.

“No luck, huh...” he thought to himself.

“Yoshi! Come here boy!”

At the same time, a tiny dog came running into the room. He was mostly white, coated

with spots of black and brown. Ilmar and Gina had gotten him for Jamal’s 10th Birthday

that year. He ran with a bark, and stood by Ilmar’s side, wagging his tail.

“You know the drill by now, don’t you?” he asked the puppy. With another bark, the dog

instinctively jumped into Jamal’s bed, and stood still next to his head for about 3

seconds.

Following that, Ilmar signaled to him, and they immediately left the room.

Not long after…Jamal woke up - he couldn’t breathe.

*coughing, choking*

“Ack!!” he exclaimed, jumping from his bed and opening the window.

“Ugh…when he farts it’s so horrible,” he lamented, gasping for air. “Can Ilmar try waking

me up normally for once?”

Not long after, having brushed his teeth and getting cleaned up, he came down to the

dining room where his siblings and his mother sat, having breakfast. Their father, Lord

Gadō, as well as their brother Fūdo, were busy going about leadership roles, and had to be

absent. This was somewhat frequent, but still rather normal to them.

“Oh, you’re finally awake,” Ilmar called to him with his mouth full.

“you know exactly why I woke up.”

“Good Morning, everyone. Sorry for waking up so late, Mom.”

“Don’t worry about that, come have your breakfast. I could re-heat it if you’d like.”

“It’s ok, I can do it Mom,” he responded as he took his plate to the microwave.

“You didn’t go forgetting what we’ll be doing today, right?” Gina asked him.

“No, I remember. We’re having a special meeting, right?”

It has currently been about a month since the Tournament, but around a few days

after its end, the training instructors Chōjo and Miwa had gathered the students to

inform them of an important meeting which was scheduled for this day. The night

before, the trainees had been having a little celebration, knowing that the meeting

would revolve around the agenda for the third and final year of Hunter Training, which

Chōjo had hinted at on their very first day, saying he wouldn’t talk about it until it was

time. The time was now finally here, and they were all thrilled as well as nervous to

learn what they would be doing this year.

“Right. I think I have a good idea of what we’re gonna do, but let’s just wait and see,”

Ilmar said as he poured some more syrup on his pancake.

“The first year was Physical Training, the second year was Skills Training, and this

year…maybe some kind of practical test?” Gina wondered.

“Well, the Tournament seemed more like a practical test than anything,” Jamal

responded.

“Like I said, just wait for it,” Ilmar repeated himself, as he finished his food. “Anyway,

the others should be getting ready, so let’s do that too.”

“Right you are, Ilmar,” his mother responded. “Go get yourselves ready, I’ll clean up

here.”

“Alright, thanks Mom!” the twins said in unison as they went back upstairs. Jamal was

still eating, eager to finish his meal while not really forcing himself at it. As Lady Miri

cleaned the dishes, she had a worried look on her face, and called to her son,

“Jamal…I won’t be telling you what this year’s training will be, but it won’t be anything

easy. To be honest…I’m worried about you, my son. Knowing your personal struggles…”

He felt a warmth within his heart. Jamal was someone who took words of care or

concern very seriously, ever since he and Tarik found their goal. He responded to his

mother, saying,

“I had a feeling it wouldn’t be like anything compared to what we’ve done so far…but,

I’ve been prepared to face the worst for a long time now, Mom.”

“And…a Hunter has no fear, right?”

Miri’s frown slowly turned into a little smile, although she wasn’t showing her face to

him. She felt relief, hearing her unbalanced son speak so boldly. She pushed aside her

worry, while he took his dishes to the sink.

“I’ll be getting ready now,” he said as he left the kitchen.

“Alright, don’t take too long, you three!”

---------------------------------------

**YAMAGUCHI MANSION**

“Oi, can you hurry it up already?”

“I’m coming, I’m coming!”

The sons of Lord Tenchi, Satoru and Tarik, were busy readying themselves as well.

Having had breakfast already, they were cleaning themselves up; to be exact, Tarik was

cleaning himself up. Satoru had been ready and waiting on him.

*sigh*

“I woke you up so early, yet you fell back asleep. Just move it, or else I’m leaving you,”

Satoru asserted.

“Alright, I get it! I’ll be out soon!” he responded from in his room’s bathroom.

As Satoru walked downstairs into the living room, he was met by his mother, Lady Yura,

laying in one of the couches reading a book.

“Do you have everything ready, Sato?” she asked.

“Yes, Mother. I’m just waiting on that dimwit upstairs.”

Yura had a saddened look on her face.

“Satoru…I know you have a much more differing personality to that of your brother, but,

try to see eye to eye with him sometimes. I know you’re a calm person, while he’s more

reckless and extroverted, but I want the two of you to be at peace…have love for each

other, and always look out for each other, no matter what goes on between you,” she

spoke to him.

“I know, Mom. I get that he’s nothing like me, but…”

As Satoru trailed off, he remembered the Tournament last month; more specifically, he

remembered his promise to Jamal before the start of their match:

“I’ll completely support the two of you.”

“...Yeah. A promise is a promise.”

“Never mind. You don’t have to worry, Mother. No matter how much we’re at odds, he’ll

always be my little brother,” he said with a smile as he turned to his mother, who smiled

back in return.

“Ok, I’m ready!!”

Storming down the stairs with his hair still a bit wet was Tarik, who started rushing

since he thought Satoru left.

“Oh, you’re still here! Sorry for keeping you back so long.”

“Shut up and go dry your hair properly!” Satoru scolded him. Their mother couldn’t help

but giggle within herself.

---------------------------------------

**10:00AM**

By this time, all the children of both Heads met with each other, and started making

their way to the North Section of the Grounds where the meeting would be held. On the

way, they met up with their fellow classmates: Akiro, Kinshi, Amira, Zeke, Galib, etc.

They all left their homes around similar times.

“So, you guys ready for the final year?” Kinshi asked them.

“I can’t really say I am, not knowing what we’re even doing,” Zeke nervously responded.

“Whatever it is, it won’t be anything easy, that’s for sure,” Galib added.

“That’s right…I think this will be some kind of test to see if we’re really cut out,” Akiro

guessed.

“In that case, I know I am,” Amira confidently responded.

“Chōjo-sensei should know by now, we won’t back down so easily,” Gina added with a

grin.

Near to the rear of the group, Jamal and Tarik walked side-by-side.

“What do you think, Jamal?” Tarik asked.

“Well…my mother didn’t explain, but she told me this year would be really difficult for

me…but, I know that probably applies for both of us,” he explained.

“I see…”

“…Whatever it is, it’s not stopping me,” he resolved within himself.

“I know it won’t, and it won’t stop me either,” he responded, looking at his friend with a

small smile, followed by a shared fist-bump.

“…Jamal. I’ve said it more times than I remember by now, but…thank you,” he said as he

looked to the ground.

Tarik was referring to the tournament; specifically, Jamal’s agreement to fighting Satoru

on his friend’s behalf.

“And I’ve also said it more times than I can remember - I’ll do anything for you, Tarik.

Even if it’s mission impossible,” he responded as he looked at him.

“Haha…right…thanks.”

Tarik felt guilt. As many times as his friend said this to him…he could never say the

same thing in response. He’d always wanted to say it, but could never muster up the

courage. In the face of Jamal, who was even less of an outspoken person than himself, he

felt powerless to do or even say anything at times. It felt like Jamal carried the bigger

weight of their mutual goal.

“One day...” he thought to himself.

“One day, I’ll be able to say the same thing to you...brother.”

As they walked by, some members of the Clans watched them, looking on in admiration,

having witnessed their abilities in the Tournament.

“Check it out, it’s the young Hunters.”

“That’s Satoru near the front, the champion! And Ilmar next to him!”

“There’s Akiro as well, the one with the cool knife technique.”

“They’re all amazing, aren’t they?”

“Yeah, even Jamal and Tarik, those ones at the back.”

Most of them felt a bit overwhelmed at all the attention they were receiving. It was to be

expected however: they were the future Hunters, who mostly gave astounding

performances in the tournament.

But, amidst all this praise, there was also some gossiping mixed in: aimed particularly at

Jamal and Tarik.

“But, those two…I heard that they’re unbalanced.”

“Really? Actually yeah, I think I heard something like that.”

“Are they really cut out to be Hunters?...There’s no one around like them.”

“They performed well, but they can’t go much far from there, can they?”

“Can we depend on them?”

This negative whispering went right into their ears, and Tarik especially was very

troubled. But, Galib picked up on this, and quickly fortified their minds, saying,

“Hey, don’t pay it much attention, you two. After all…actions speak louder than words,

right?”

They looked up at him, and then received a little resilience toward the criticism that

was coming at them.

After walking a while, they were finally on the outskirts of Field B, which is to the far

north of the Grounds. They walked along just outside the field as they made their way to

a little Dojo, where they would normally have their meetings. Unbeknownst to any of

them…or anyone for that matter, a shadowy figure lingered nearby, concealing his

presence. Who was this suspicious individual…that not even Tenchi’s invisible Soul

Barrier which circled the entire complex, was able to pick up on? Nevertheless,

he was certainly there; not to cause trouble, but to eavesdrop. He hid himself as the

trainees approached and went in the Dojo.

Inside were their instructors, Chōjo and Miwa, having a conversation. Even they were

unaware of the ghostly individual; not even Miwa, who was a sensory type.

“Oh, you're all here now. Excellent,” Chōjo said to them as he and Miwa stood up.

The Trainees spread out across the room and bowed themselves, and each took seats on

the mats.

*clears throat*

“As always, it's good to see you all again,” Chōjo began to address them. “Firstly, we

want to express how proud we are with the changes you guys have underwent across

these last two years of training. It was rough, between training and me constantly telling

you all to quit, but you overcame. In my book, you're all warriors.”

“You know the drill by now…I still don't wish for you to become Hunters. With the skills

you've all acquired and are in the process of developing, you could easily pursue

different areas of expertise, such as becoming Instructors like ourselves, or Personal

Trainers, whatever you'd like. This will be my final appeal to you…to quit.”

They would have all remained silent, but Tarik was the one to respond,

“Sensei, at this point, you probably shouldn't ask anymore…we've gotten this far, right?”

“Right you are, Tarik. As much as it irritates me, I have to say, I'm pleased with your

growth the most,” he said to him, letting out a sigh.

“Anyway, I guess we'll cut to the chase: for this Final Year…”

Chōjo left off in his statement as a hand was raised; its owner being Satoru.

“Ah, the Star Pupil this time. Go ahead, Satoru,” he permitted.

“Yes, Sensei. For this year…” he started.

“…We'll be hunting, right?”

The room was silent for about 5 seconds…that was the conclusion most of the trainees

arrived at, but refrained from accepting. A few felt cold sweats down their bodies.

“That's absolutely correct.”

“Yep...I had a feeling,” Ilmar thought to himself.

“W-Wait a minute…we'll be hunting actual Dragons??” Zeke fearfully asked.

“…”

“No. At least, not yet,” Chōjo reassured them.

They all exhaled sighs of relief.

“For about the space of one week, we'll be running drills, getting you all accustomed to

how things are done. You'll be learning about formations, how to operate within squads,

building synergy with each other, and how to handle extreme stress. This will be, and is,

the most difficult phase in a Hunter’s life.”

Miwa then took the opportunity to speak, saying,

“Now, with all this being said…is there anyone who thinks they're not ready for this?

Speak now.”

There was silence in the room…many of them were extremely nervous. The thought of

Practical Training rattled them, even though they wouldn't be engaging with any

Dragons. It was a struggle to remain seated…Haruo was actually ready to stand up, and

possibly a few others, but the encouragement of the weak was more than enough:

“Sensei! We said we won't give up!”

It was Tarik once again. This time…he might have actually came to their rescue.

“I-I agree!” Genki added on.

“Same here,” Amira agreed.

“I didn't come this far just to quit,” Kinshi declared.

“No one’s backing out of this,” Ilmar was the last to speak.

They expected a facepalm from Chōjo…but rather, there was a smirk.

“Hmph. Very well.”

“We meet at the South Gate tomorrow night, by 6:00PM. I'll give you all further

instructions by then.”

“Now then…you're dismissed. Prepare yourselves.”

---------------------------------------

**12:00PM**

Over by the Western side of the Grounds, there was a small park. There were many

benches, gazebos, trees, and landmarks within. Under one gazebo stood Hayami, leaning

on its railing. As the wind blew her untied hair, she was staring off into space, lost in her

thoughts. The vision she had received that morning still weighed on her mind.

“...What does it mean?...” she asked herself, over and over.

“Hey, you got an imaginary friend?”

She looked up to find the source of the familiar voice: it was Fūdo.

!!

“F-FŪDO-KUN?! What's he doing here?” – her face became slightly red.

Nevertheless, she shrugged off her excitement, her mind being far overcrowded by the

deep thoughts.

“I thought I felt a little gloom across the horizon…you alright?” he asked her as he came

up into the gazebo.

“…I had this dream today. It's been weighing down on me ever since,” she started.

“The very last time I had that dream…was a few months after I was rescued.”

She recalled that time long ago when she had been around 8 years old…a group of

houses set ablaze, her mother's smiling face, arms carrying her away…and the sound of

her own screams. She'd been rescued from the outside by a squad led by Lord Tenchi, back

when he was still just a Hunter. Even after being saved, she was still haunted by that

nightmare for months.

She stopped having the dream after getting accustomed to her new family, and was at

peace for many years…and now, it had suddenly resurfaced.

“What could it mean?” Fūdo asked her.

“…”

“Something bad is about to happen…that's the only logical explanation,” she responded.

They leaned on the rails in silence for a moment, as the gentle wind blew their hair and

clothes.

“Then…what are you gonna do?”

Initially, she didn't know what to say. She was about to shrug her shoulders after a few

seconds, but for some reason…a sense of justice rose up within her. She felt as if there

was something, or someone, to protect.

She saw two faces in front of her…Jamal, and Tarik.

Gripping the handrails and looking straightforward, she finally responded:

“I'm going with the Trainees tomorrow.”

“I don't know what it is…but, I'll be there. As backup,” she turned to him.

Fūdo looked at her as she spoke, then later gazed across the park. He wasn't thinking of

trying to stop her. Fudo wasn't the type of person to show his emotions much, but looking

forward, he placed his hand on her shoulder, and said to her:

“Whatever it is…be safe, Hayami.”

Rather than blushing again, concern filled her heart more and more. But, she equally felt

an even deeper sense of responsibility. For some unclear reason, she had to be by their

sides.

Not wanting to say much more at the time, Fūdo then began to leave, but not without a

little encouragement:

“I know everything will work out just fine. I trust you, Hayami.”

“Thank you, Fūdo-kun.”

“Yeah...I have something to protect. I couldn't do it for you...Mother. But, I'll do it for those

two. Whatever it is. Whatever it takes.”

Before he left, she had something more to say to him:

“Fūdo!”

“Hm?”

“…When it's over, let's have a drink!” she insisted with a sweet smile. Fūdo tried his

hardest not to notice how cute she looked.

“I'll be looking forward to it,” he smiled back.

She then waved him goodbye as he departed.

---------------------------------------

**HIGHEST POINT IN THE FAMILY GROUNDS**

On top of a telecomms tower, there stood an individual. He was donned in a black,

hooded trenchcoat, with long black pants and Waraji sandals. He had long black hair in

the style of a mohawk, tied at the back of his neck, reaching down to his waist. He was

white-skinned, and his irides were black and wide, concealing the majority of his

sclerae. His fingernails were painted black, and his face was more oval shaped, with a

tattoo of the kanji 水 (Water) below his right eye. It was the mysterious individual from

earlier…the one Gyuwhan gave a mission…his right-hand man, Mujin. As his garments

and hair flowed along with the wind, he was having a conversation with someone:

“Yes…that's right.”

“Tomorrow night. 6:00PM.”

“Two Hunters. One of them is Chōjo Sanjuro.”

“…Hmph. The type of answer I expected.”

“Understood. I'll give you the location when they set off tomorrow.”

“…Alright, Ryūjin-sama.”

The conversation ended, and Mujin looked up into the sky.

“It sure is windy…the rainclouds are being blown right this way.”

“…I wonder who they're for.”

**TO BE CONTINUED**