At the moment two large wolves suddenly appeared on either side of Flash; one white and the other black, the white being slightly larger than the black wolf. Both wolves circled around Borya as wolves circle a prey, their eyes gleaming, and their fangs bared.

Hana’s eyes widened. She had seen Blaze attack before, but who was the new wolf? For a moment she forgot about her pain, watching with wide eyes at this.

Rekino’s mouth had nearly dropped. “Hawk,” she whispered, then grimaced in pain. Her injury was beginning to hurt her worse now, and she felt she could barely keep consciousness.

Borya’s eyes widened as he stiffened. He had never seen wolves this size before, and they looked as if they could just swallow him in one bite.. He tried backing away, but the white wolf suddenly bit him in the middle of his back, making him scream and leap forward where the black one bit him in the chest. He screamed in pain, and tried to remain still.. The girl had been right, he realized. These two wolves were going to torture him. He had to think of something and fast.

And then suddenly a large red panther jumped in through the window, landing right before them all.. The two wolves did not turn around, nor back away from their prey, nor did Flash take her eyes off Borya for a moment.

Hana, however, took notice of the panther.. She could see the familiar light blue eyes of the panther, the eyes she had fallen in love with.. “Thunder,” she gasped weakly, before letting her head drop to her chest.

Borya stared at Thunder now as he tried to keep his eyes focused on the two wolves. “Y..you’ve changed too,” he whispered, his voice betraying him. It was hard to remain brave anymore.

Thunder roared at him angrily, ready to just pounce on him and rip him to shreds..

Meanwhile, Scorpio, Rowen, and Sage had left the royals at the hotel as they headed back to Thaitus castle. Rowen had urged the king not to send soldiers with them, as they’d be able to handle this, and in the end the king of Germany had agreed, and they had watched as the three teenagers in armor hurried out the door. They ran down the streets, and soon caught up with Ryo and Shades. Together the five of them set off for the castle, and in no time, they too leapt down into the throne room, surrounding Borya, their weapons drawn and poised for battle.

“Well,” Borya said, suddenly smirking. “It looks like you’re all here!”

“Save it!” Sage yelled at him. “You’re going down for all the suffering you caused! For the harm you caused to Thunder and his family, to the harm of my partner in arms, to everything else you’ve done!”

“Do you really think you can stop me?” Borya sneered.

“Not only can we stop you, but we’ll make you regret doing everything you’ve ever done!” Shades snapped.

Ryo lifted his burning eyes toward his sister who had fallen unconscious. Anger increased within his veins once again and he lifted his burning eyes toward Borya. “I’m going to enjoy watching you suffer,” he said coldly.

Borya smirked, "Is that so, young warriors?" He strode over to the two Lady Guardians and stood in between them, "Do you think that for a second I wouldn't hesitate to kill these two girls?" Borya help out his hand, "This is the time to make your choices. Stop and they live. Fight and they die."

"You wouldn't dare!" Rowen shouted. He reached behind his back and grabbed an arrow, loading it in his bow, "Chances are the minute you hurt them, everyone will be on your ass faster than white on rice."

"Hm, we'll see about that," Borya grabbed Rekino and Hana's hand and sent the same pulse of energy through the girls bodies.

"SHIT!" Rekino pulled up on her chains as she tried to take the pain, but it was just too much.

Hana's mouth opened, but she couldn't get out a sound. She kicked her legs trying to hit Borya, but she missed. She was biting on her bottom lips so hard she drew blood.

Borya saw that the wolves were ready to attack him again. He stopped his attack, "I don't think so. The minute you move, they die."

Hana lifted her head to look up at everyone. She managed a small smile. She looked over at Rekino and saw her leader was unconscious, "Get out of here! Go now! Forget about us!"

Sage drew out his no datchi and looked at Hana sympathetically, "I can't do that. You're my guardian, partner in arms, and friend. There's no way I'm letting you die!"

"No…" Hana shook her head back and forth. Her eyes fell upon Thunder's light blue ones. She nodded towards him, "Please Thunder, leave. It's not to late too-" Hana's words were cut short as another energy ball flew towards her at lighting speed. The magic hit her in the back and she passed out due to the power difference.

"Oh my, look at what we have here," Borya announced, "Look at what you did to my prisoner."

Out of the shadows, Alina stepped forward and stood at Borya's side. Her face looking like she could kill, and her staff ready to do whatever she command, "She was getting on my nerves." She flipped her hair over her shoulder and looked at the warriors and saw the prince, "Well, we're in the midst of a bunch of commoners, a whore, and a would be prince. How delightful. You see," Alina raised her staff and pointed the bottom, which was extremely sharp, at Hana's neck, "She's going to die in about…right now."

Something inside Thunder must have snapped. One moment he had been cowering slightly in fear at the sight of Alina, and then when he heard had the words, and saw that Hana was in terrible danger, he didn’t even realize what he was doing. He suddenly leapt over Scorpio’s and Rowen’s heads in one clear shot and knocked Alina down on her back, sending them both flying away from Hana. There was a scream from Alina, and a shout of curses from Borya.

Thunder began to attack the queen viciously as she screamed in terror and in pain, trying to get the red panther off her.

“No more!” Borya suddenly yelled as he drew up his whip again. “This time, they die!”

Flash jerked her head toward him and surrounded him with a wall of fire, one he could not penetrate. She nodded toward Rowen and Ryo, and the two quickly got the Lady Ronin Guardians down.

Sage’s lips trembled when he saw the condition his partner in arms was. He was about to sob right then and there. Shades shook her head at him. “There’s no time for pity! We’ve got to get out of here!”

“She’s right,” Scorpio said.

“Give my partner to me,” Sage said to Rowen through tears. “I’m taking her out of here.”

Rowen nodded and handed Hana to them, and the Ronins of Wildfire and Halo left through the window.

Blaze looked at Hawk. ‘Go with them and protect them.’

The black wolf immediately leapt out the window to follow them, as instructed.

Borya was trying to think of how to get out of this mess, when the only conclusion he could come to was to jump over the fire. But when he tried, the fire suddenly sprang up higher, keeping him trapped there.

Alina was still screaming in terror and pain. Thunder had already tore deep gashes within her arms, and though he was wanting to kill her right then and there, he held himself back. Rowen made his way over to them, and stared down at Alina, cocking an arrow at her. “Do you surrender?”

“Never!” Alina spat out in. This resulted in Thunder tearing her skin up even more, and one pissed off white wolf baring its enormous fangs down at her.

“I don’t think they like that answer,” Shades said coldly.

“Yeah,” Scorpio chimed in. “My friend looks pretty pissed, and he might change his mind about not killing you.”

“You can hear him?” Alina asked, her eyes widening.

“No, but I can feel he wants to kill you for what you’ve done.”

“Maybe he should kill you,” Flash said, crossing her arms. “After all, a whore like you doesn’t deserve to live.”

“You’re the whore,” Alina muttered.

“Oh, ho.. I like this,” Flash retorted. “The queen of sluts who goes around forcing their way into innocent boys’ pants, and dresses like a cheap two cent hooker, is calling me a whore.. Ain’t that just peachy? Well, let’s define whore shall we? A whore, a person who goes around trying to get a leg off anybody and anything. A person who dresses accordingly, revealing parts of body that should never be exposed to outsiders other than spouses. Besides next time you go through a dictionary, look up whore and see if you find my picture there. You won’t.”

Alina glared at her despite her intense pain. She could think of nothing to say at all.

“Now surrender or I get fire happy,” Flash warned them both.

Borya and Alina had little choice.

Ryo and Sage arrived at the hotel with Rekino and Hana in their arms. Thaitus, Lila, Damien, Bianca, Annelise were waiting in the kitchen when the two warriors barged in. Lila’s face fell when he saw the condition of Hana. Thaitus’ eyes widened when Sage brought Hana to the couch. Ryo’s eyes were filling with tears as he laid Rekino down on the couch.
Lila ran over to Sage’s side to help him with Hana. Her eyes fell upon the young Japanese girl, “What are you going to do?” She reached out to touch the wound on Hana’s head, and noticed that the young girls blonde hair wasn’t even visible due to all of the blood.
Sage’s eye spilled over with tears, “I have to get her into armor. The power of both Halo’s is better than the power of one.”
“You better do something quick!” Ryo screamed, “I don’t think that Rekino can last much longer.”
Everyone’s attention turned to Rekino, who was in Ryo’s arms. The Lady of Wildfire’s breathing was so shallow and soft that you couldn’t tell she was breathing unless you looked closely. Thaitus let his head fall. Maybe if he’d listened to everyone, then nothing would’ve happened.
Sage let his violet eyes follow from Rekino back to Hana. I’ve got to think of something before one of them dies! Hana can’t armor up. She’s too weak…unless. “Kayura! We need your help!”
“Who’s Kayura?” Bianca asked. A blinding light in the room answered her as a woman of Japanese decent appeared in the room. She wore a traditional purple kimono and held some kind of ancient staff.
“What is it, Sage of Halo?” Kayura asked. She looked around the room and noticed the injured Lady Guardians, “What has happened here?”
“No time for questions, Kay,” Sage interrupted, “Can you get Hana into her armor? If I heal her while she’s in armor, the healing affect will be greater!”
Kayura smiled at Sage, “Might as well, Halo. Remember: don’t let her stay in the armor to long. The minute I transform her, start healing, otherwise, being in armor could kill her.”
“Then,” King Damien interrupted the two, “Is it a good idea to put her in the armor? If she can’t survive while in it.”
”Hana won’t die!” Sage screamed, “She’s stronger than that. She wants to live for the people she loves. Including Thunder!” He pointed at Lila and Thaitus, “This must be done. Kayura, do it now.”
”All right,” Kayura said. She raised the staff of the Ancients high in the air. She chanted in Ancient Japanese as Hana’s clothes disappeared and she was surrounded in swirls of cherry blossom. The cherry blossoms started radiating a green glow as they landed on Hana’s body. Kayura snapped her fingers and the pieces of the flower that had dropped on Hana covered the girl in her armor.
”No, Sage!” Ryo screamed. He wanted Sage to hurry and heal Hana so they could help his sister, “I don’t think Rekino’s breathing anymore!” He put a hand over Rekino’s mouth and felt a light gasp of breath.
Sage had immediately started healing Hana when his counterpart armored up. He could feel his kanji glowing on his forehead as he could see Hana’s as well. He had almost started to give up hope until he heard her grunt and her eyes flitter open. He couldn’t contain himself as he hugged her and smiled.
”Sage?” Hana asked. She raised an eyebrow and looked up to see Kayura looming over her, “Holy Mary Mother of God! Am I dead?”
Kayura laughed, “No, Lady Halo, you’re very much alive thanks to your counterpart. He and Ryo brought you and Rekino back to the hotel – “
“Oh shit! I’ve got the help the others!” Hana bolted up from the couch only to be stopped by a sharp pain in her ribs.
”I will not permit you to leave, Hana,” Thaitus ordered, “As king, you follow my rules.”
“Fuck the rules!” Hana shouted, “Ain’t not way in hell I’m letting my friends and the person I – I’ll just stop right there.” She looked around the room and saw that Ryo was holding her leader, “Rekino! Sage, we’ve got to help her.”
“Right,” Sage looked towards Kayura, “Could you help us?”
Kayura sighed as she joined Sage and Hana, “Both of you know that I’m not a healer, but I can help with the healing process.”
“Okay!” Hana said. She joined hands with Sage as both of them laid hands on Rekino’s body. The leader of the Lady Guardians started to glow a dark hue of green as the powers from both of the Halo’s healed her body. Kayura had used the Ancient’s staff to increase the rate of the healing process. When they were done, Sage and Hana stepped back, but Rekino didn’t’ wake up.
“Is she going to be okay?” Ryo asked.
“Don’t worry, Wildfire, your sister will be fine. Now, I must leave you three here. Flash and the others have imprisoned Borya and Alina, and will be arriving shortly. You have freed the country, young ones. Congratulations,” Kayura turned around and vanished into thin air.
Hana sat down on the couch and powered down into her torn and shredded street clothes. Her emotions threatening to release at any minute. She took a glance at Rekino and her heart brake, but looking at Sage made everything come out. She let out a choked sob and buried her face in her hands. Sage looked down and knelt down beside her.
“Hana?”
Hana’s eyes, which were full of tears, rose to look into his violet ones, “Sage, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to say and do all of those awful things to you.”
Sage nodded that it was okay, and, with happiness in her heart, Hana wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her head in his chest as she cried. She was so tired and weak that she fell asleep in that position. Sage smiled lightly and tried to run his hands through her hair, but the dried blood made it impossible. Before Sage could do anything to move her, Flash and the others came into the door.

Everyone looked toward them, a bit surprised they had come in so suddenly.. They hadn’t expected the battle to be over within hours. Was it really true they had won? Thaitus was almost too afraid to ask. He saw his son, now back to normal. He was staring at Hana and Rekino sadly.

Without speaking to anyone, he made his way over to them. First, he healed Rekino of all of her injuries. When she had been healed, Ryo thanked him over and over, and then took his sister to get some well deserved rest. Then Thunder turned to Hana. More tears filled his eyes again, and he healed her of her pain. He wanted to tell her how he felt, but now was not a good time.. It would have to wait. No one said anything though, when after he had put her in a healing sleep, he carried her to her room to rest.

Thaitus sighed as he sat down. “Well, now what?”

Flash looked at him. “You’re gonna have to get some major cleaning done.. Borya and Alina did a lot of damage to your empire.”

Thaitus growled, his brows furrowing. “That doesn’t surprise me any.”

Flash rubbed her forehead and swayed a bit, but managed to catch herself in time. Shades and Scorpio frowned deeply at her.

“Hey, are you okay?” Shades asked.

Flash tried to speak, but she suddenly felt dizzy. And then suddenly she passed out right there on the floor. If not for Scorpio catching her suddenly, she would have hit her head pretty hard on the floor. Lila and Annelise gasped, Bianca stared with surprise, and the two kings stood up.

“Is she all right?” Damien asked, staring at the girl. He had noticed her hair color was back to normal now, but there was one slight change to her.. A part of her bangs underneath was pure blond, while the rest of her hair was all white. It was truly remarkable..

Scorpio nodded. “She’ll be okay. She’s just exhausted.”

Sage approached him almost timidly. “Scorpio, let me take her to rest, please.”

Scorpio stared at him for a few moments, and then handed her to him. He watched as Sage turned around and carefully left the room with the sleeping girl.

Shades sighed heavily as she sat down on the couch, rubbing her temples. She was back in her regular clothing, a dark green t-shirt, and blue jeans with a hole in the left knee. Although she enjoyed fighting she was glad it was over for once. Now maybe things could go back to normal.

Scorpio sat down beside her, feeling tired and incredibly thirsty. After a few minutes, he went to the kitchen and poured himself a tall glass of ice cold water, and drank it as if he had had nothing to drink for days.

Annelise stared at him in surprise. “Are you that thirsty?”

Scorpio lowered his cup and stared at her. “I have this condition where I must have water every single hour.”

“I see,” she replied, nodding her head. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Thank you.”

Thaitus stood up. “As much as I’d rather stay here and see to my son, I have duties..” Everyone looked at him, wondering what he was going to say now. Rowen had disappeared into Rekino’s room, as Ryo had come out, and now the bearer of Wildfire, and the Current, and Ataxia Warriors were staring at the king.

“Dear?” Lila stared at her husband, wondering just what he was going to say. She gasped a little as he drew her into a hug, and stared deep in her eyes.

“I must apologize for my behavior. It was ruthless and out of character,” he told her sincerely. “I want to make it up to you and to our son. I will clean up the mess that I have started, and I think I will have a talk with our son once the time is right.”

Lila’s eyes misted over and she hugged him fiercely.

Ryo stepped forward, making his presence known. “We’ll do our best to help you, your majesty.”

Thaitus stared at him and nodded. “I thank you. I learned one thing from my son. You can’t judge a human being by their status. I have learned a lot of things during the past few days. But now I must see to my kingdom. Lila, please stay here with our son until I send for you both.”

Lila nodded. “Yes, dear.” She gave him a gentle kiss, and he returned it, then he stood up.

Damien stood up as well. “We must depart ourselves. My kingdom needs me, and Bianca wanted to see about getting herself together, and plan for another marriage for the neighboring prince of France.”

Ryo smiled. “I’m sure everything will be just fine when she does.”

“Thank you,” Bianca said.

Thaitus, and the royals of Italy then bid their good-byes, and left the hotel rooms.

Scorpio sighed deeply. Now perhaps things would start to come together, and maybe within a few days they would all be able to go home.

Rowen was relieved when Rekino was better. They had shared a few moments together, enjoying one another’s company. But now Rekino wanted to check on a few people. She kissed Rowen, and left him, promising to return to him when she was done. Rowen watched her, smiling as she left. How much he loved her, he realized. And he hoped nothing would ever separate them. He would simply go mad if they were.

Sage was in the room with Flash as he watched her sleep. He watched as the younger girl's chest rose and fell at a steady pace. Tears started forming in his violet eyes as he took her hand and knelt down beside her bed.

"I don't know if you can hear me, Flash, but there's something I've been meaning to tell you," Sage said softly, but loud enough for someone to hear, "I've been thinking about some things lately, and I wasn't sure if I could tell you to your face, but since your asleep, it won't hurt to practice," He clasped his other hand around hers as well, "After everything that has happened in the last few months, I've had these unnerving thoughts about you. The way you talk, the way you walk, and everything about you I've come to love. Yeah, you heard me. I love you, Flash. After you and Thunder left Japan, I couldn't get you off my mind, and I know Thunder was on Hana's. I knew she was in love with him, but I didn't want to believe it. When she blurted it out after you left, realization finally struck me and I knew that I couldn't have her."

The soft sound of her breathing was the only thing that answered him back. He removed one of his hands and lightly caressed her cheek, "But I realized that too late. By the time Hana announced that she loved Thunder, you had already taken my heart. I didn't know how to tell you sooner. I was afraid of being rejected. I know that I may seem like a player, but, to tell you the truth, I don't actually like talking to girls. The only reason I talk to you and the other's is because I've known y'all. You see, my parents use to dress me up as a girl when I was younger, so that kinda ruled out all of the fun for me," He chuckled a little, "Yeah, Hana got a kick out of that when I told her."

A figure stopped beside the doorway when Sage had started talking about his feelings. The person raised a hand to her mouth to hide back a chuckle. When the moment was right, she would intervene.

Sage sighed softly, "I wish I would've told you sooner so that I could actually call you mine. I would've been the luckiest guy in the world if I'd had a chance with you. Sometimes I sit and think what it would be like to have you as my girlfriend, ya know. You're beautiful, smart, and sexy, Flash, and I just wish I would've gotten to have you. I'm just glad that I got to tell you while you were sleeping," He removed his hand from her cheek, "Well, that's my pep talk, see ya chief."

"Hate to break it to ya, Sage, but I heard everything," Flash groaned as she sat up in the bed, "Honestly Sage, you've gotten to be so corny."

"Gee thanks," Sage smiled lightly, "I was trying to be romantic and all, but seems that's not enough for you."

Flash cocked her head to the side, "Are you going to kiss me or sit here and talk all day?"

The Ronin of Halo's eyes widened, but he quickly smirked as he leaned closer to Flash. When their lips were an inch away from one another, a voice made them stop.

"Okay Mary Tyler Moore, don't rush it," Rekino said from the doorway, "Seriously, I didn't think that you'd be such a horny teenager."

"For the last time, I am NOT Mary Tyler Moore!" Sage shouted and glared at his best friend's sister.

"Rekino. Out," Flash ordered.

Rekino blinked her amethyst eyes and held up her hands, "I'm going, I'm going. Sheesh, I love y'all too. I'm glad you're alright too," She shrugged and walked out of the room to go and check on Hana.

Thunder was kneeling beside the bed which Hana slept on. He had never left her side. He had heard her words earlier when she had blurted out her feelings for him. He had said nothing then, and now he wished he had. Tears ran down his cheeks, and he quickly brushed them away. He didn’t want to cry, but it was hard to keep his tears away. He lowered his head.

“I’m sorry, Hana,” he whispered. “I wanted to tell you how I felt, but I was too afraid. I didn’t know how to say it. With everything happening, and with my father putting so much pressure on me, and with what.. Alina had done, I couldn’t bear myself. I was ashamed of myself, and I had no idea you loved me. No girl ever told me that before. Sure my female friends love me, but not the way you said you do. I always had a hard time with girls. After I was separated from my real parents and raised by peasants on a traveling boat, I was never around girls. My surrogate mother was the only female I saw on that boat. And then when I was eight years old, I was taken to an all boy’s military school. Again I saw no girls there, not even a woman. My grandmother was the first I had seen in about six years. It was hard for me to talk to girls. Flash, Shades, T-boz, and Chilie were the very first ones I talked to. Although Chilie flirted with me a few times.”

He took a deep breath and smiled weakly. “In a way when I saw you for the first time, you reminded me of her. If I hadn’t known any better I would have sworn you were twins somehow. After I got to know you and the other Lady Guardians I began to open up more. I’m still shy, but I’m not so afraid of girls anymore. I have you and the others to thank for that.”

Thunder suddenly paused, tilting his head slightly toward the door. He had sensed someone standing there. He stared at the door for a few moments, as if waiting to see if the person would come in.

Outside, Rekino hesitated. She had seen Thunder looking toward the door. Should she go in, or just leave? She let out a sigh, not able to make up her mind.

Thunder heard soft moaning and then turned his head back to Hana. She was opening her eyes up, and staring at him. “Thunder?” she said softly.

He smiled at her. “How are you feeling?” he asked.

“Much better, thanks to you,” she said with a smile of her own. Thunder nodded, staring into her eyes. He never realized how beautiful she was. He gently brushed her hair out of her eyes, blushing as he did so. Hana was surprised. “Thunder?”

“I heard you earlier, Hana,” he said softly.

Hana frowned deeply. Oh no, this was it. He was going to tell her he didn’t love her, that he wasn’t ready to start dating anyone, and that he had to marry that Bianca. She couldn’t handle this. Okay, she’d be strong. She would handle this. “Oh?” she finally whispered.

Thunder smiled shyly. “I never had a girl tell me that.. not the way you meant it. It took me by surprise actually.”

Hana blinked and looked at him, her eyebrows raised. “Why’s that?” she asked.

“Because…. because I love you too,” he confessed.

Hana’s eyes widened with surprise. “You.. you do?”

Thunder nodded and sat down beside her, staring into her eyes. “Yes, Hana. I do. I loved you for a while now. I was just too afraid to say anything.”

“You didn’t have to be,” she told him.

“I know,” he said. “I’m not afraid anymore.”

Hana stared into his eyes. “You’re not?” she asked.

“No, I’m not,” he replied softly. To her surprise, and to his own surprise, he gently brought her close to him and kissed her lightly on the lips. Hana’s heart pounded against her chest. She wrapped her arms around him and returned the kiss.

Rekino smiled to herself, whispering, “About time.” Then she left them alone, not bothering to interrupt them.