Thunder stood facing his foe, his nodatchi held between his eyes in a relaxed grip. He was very calm, and intense at the same time, focused on the tournament. He knew his grandparents, his friends, and his mentor were among the crowds in the bleachers that were all watching him. He had to remain focused completely, and not let anything slip him up.

His opponent was also staring back at him. There was a sweat going down his face.. Then the whistle sounded and the two began to duel. Their swords moved back and forth, clanging against one another, the sounds echoing across the building, the each one trying to outdo the other, but never actually trying to harm each other.. Finally after what seemed to be an eternity, Thunder was able to dislodge Brian’s sword from him. He had won.. They both bowed respectfully to each other, and Brian headed off the mats. Then the referee turned to the crowds.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, Thunder Copiel will now perform his Way of the Sword dance. Please keep your applaud down and your voices quiet until he completes these delicate and complex moves.”

The entire audience had grown extremely silent.. Thunder stepped forward, then began to demonstrate his moves, carefully doing each one correctly. His motion was perfect, graceful. It was as if he were dancing with the most beautiful music that was being played. Each step was done carefully and with beauty. He kept his mind focused on his movements as his muscles flexed with the dancing of the Way of the Sword..

Hana couldn't take her eyes off the man on the television screen. She couldn't contain herself any longer, "Dear God in heaven! Look at him! He's so hot! I'm gonna land that someday!"

"You horny toad!" Rekino said and popped her in the back of the head, "You're the main reason people invented condoms."

Kento couldn't resist his outburst, "Yeah, but Ryo and Mia didn't pay attention that invention! I even rhymed!"

Ryo's face turned completely red with anger, "You're so dead!" He got up abruptly and started to chase Kento around the house.

Mia was frowning, "I hope Ryo kicks his butt. I would, but I'm in no condition too."

Rekino and the others, except Hana, were dying with laughter. The Halo Guardian kept her eyes glued to the television as she watched Thunder end his routine. She kept an inward smile to herself. I miss you Thunder. I just don't believe that you would miss me. If you can hear my thought by our element link, take care and tell Flash I said hello.

“You were great!” Flash exclaimed as she hugged her tall friend. They all gathered around him the moment he had left his locker room, and were all congratulating him. Scorpio kept whooping, Ice pounded his back, Chilie hugged him as well, T-boz smiled and congratulated him as well, Snow patted his shoulder excitedly, and Shades just congratulated him with a nod of her head. Though Shades did not look it, she was really happy for the German.

“Congratulations, Thunder,” Chinook said calmly with a bow. Thunder bowed back to him.

“Thank you, Master Chinook.”

After a bit of exchanges the group begin to split up. Thunder held his trophy in his hand. It was the fourth trophy he had won this past year. As he was leaving the building he thought he heard a voice in his head. It sounded familiar to him, but who was it from? Then he remembered. Hana..

“Thunder, are you coming dear?” his grandmother called to him gently. Thunder looked in her direction and nodded, and headed to her, then climbed in the medium sized blue car. Scorpio was already in the backseat, fumbling with his seatbelt for a while until he finally got it to snap shut for him.

Thunder closed his door and buckled up as his grandmother got in the front passenger seat. They all heard a honk, and all of them looked toward the left of the car where the Michaels’ cars had pulled up beside theirs.

“Hey, I’ll see you two at school tomorrow,” Flash said.

“We see you too, Thunder and Scorpio!” came two voices from across Flash. It was Sammy and Cammy.

The two boys nodded. “Yeah, we’ll be there,” Thunder promised. He wanted to tell her what he had heard Hana say, but he couldn’t do it in front of his grandparents, nor Scorpio. They wouldn’t understand. Not yet anyway. He’d have to tell her when he had a better chance. The cars soon drove off from one another, heading in different directions.

Each of the Warriors were heading for their own places. T-boz was riding back to her hosts, given a ride by Chilie and her aunt, Snow and Ice went home with their parents, and their younger sister, Flash went home with her dad, her stepmother, and the twins, and Thunder and Scorpio were headed back to the Copiels. All were exhausted at it being 10:00 p.m at night. And all planned to get a good night’s rest..

In the kingdom of Germany, an old looking man sat beside his wife as they finished watching a Kendo tournament on the television. The winner seemed to intrigue them. They knew who it was, but refused to believe it. He was alive. Both of them were happy, but the man seemed rather struck when he saw the young man being swarmed by people, whom where hugging and touching on him.

"What would you like for me to do, my Lord Thaitus?" The woman asked. She looked a bit younger that her husband. She had light blonde hair that fell to her shoulders.

"My Lady Lila, order us a flight to that place. Those commoners must never be allowed to touch the heir again!" The man bellowed out with a slamming of his fist.

"As you wish," The woman, Lila, stood from her throne and made her way to find her guards.

Back at the house, Thunder had just gotten out of the shower and was dressing while Scorpio took his turn in the bathroom. After dressing in a pair of red boxers and a muscle shirt he had sat down his bed, deep in thought. Should he contact Hana and talk to her? He didn’t know.. He let out a deep sigh. The house was all quiet except the shower running down the hall. His grandparents were all ready in bed and trusted the boys to sleep soon themselves.. He glanced at his clock. 10:15 now. He wondered if Hana would be up.. He decided to try and talk with her. He just hoped he wouldn’t freeze up from his intense shyness.

‘Hana?’ He called out softly through the link.

In the bathroom, Scorpio had finished showering and was dressing in his boxers. He left his shirt on, and brushed his hair out, then his teeth. He was quite tired, but awake enough to complete the simple task of good hygiene and cleaning up the bathroom. With a yawn, he finished up, and headed for the room he shared with Thunder.

Flash was already sound asleep in her bed, with Blaze sleeping on the floor beside her, and her stepmother’s cat asleep at her feet. The mansion was all silent, including her dad’s annoying dogs, as she put them as.

She was in a comfortable sleep, and so far nothing would wake her.. Well, at least hopefully nothing would..

T-boz was just getting ready for bed herself. She took off her white headband and laid it on the dresser and undid her long black braids, then brushed her long thick black hair out.. She was yawning continuously and couldn’t wait to fall asleep soon. It had been such a long day. She got into her nightgown, putting her traditional Indian clothes in the laundry basket, and shut the light off.. Soon she was fast asleep.

The twins were both getting ready for bed in their own homes.. Snow was putting away his chemistry books and his molecule model away as Ice grabbed one last sandwich from the fridge, and ate it.. Both twins quickly showered, brushed their teeth, bid good-night to their parents, and headed to their room.

Shades was reading a book while lying on her cot in her room above the baker’s shop. She had some fresh baked cookies he had given to her, an extra tip for her help around the place.. So she was eating them and reading at the same time while she waited for sleep to come to her.. It soon did, and she also drifted off to sleep.

Chilie was busy preparing her outfit for tomorrow’s school day. She had laid out a black skirt that went to her knees, a light purple blouse that buttoned up, and black doc martins, followed by a huge belt that went around her waist. She spent a few more minutes getting ready for bed, then washed her hair, blow dried it, washed off her makeup, then brushed her teeth, and climbed into her nightgown.. She hopped into bed.

“Chilie, are you in bed, yet?” her aunt’s gentle voice came through the door.

“Yes!”

“Don’t forget to say your prayers and read the Torah!”

“I won’t. Love you!”

“I love you. Good night. God bless.

“God bless,” Chilie said, then reached for her Torah book.

After the tournament was over, Hana had decided to go for a walk. She needed to clear her mind of some things. Personally, her feelings for Sage and Thunder were starting to bug her. She had only known Thunder for three months, but those three months were the most memorable. The date that she had gone on Thunder with had to have been the sweetest. They had gotten to know one another better. Their interests in Kendo struck the subject. Hana had told Thunder about her competitions she had won since she was a little girl. She smiled at the thought. Her mother and father had put her in Kendo to help her spirit and mind grow and develop into a young lady. It helped and she won many praises from people around her nation. She recalled Thunder telling her they needed to practice some time together; however that never happened. He left before she ever had a chance with him…

Sage, on the other hand, she had known for about two years now. He was arrogant, feisty, and pig headed. Hana never thought that she would be his guardian, but fate had played a hand in that. What many people didn't know, Sage and Hana had actually went on a date two weeks after the end of the Dynasty War with Talpa. Hana had found out many things about Sage. How he was dressed as a girl when he was younger. She couldn't help but laugh at that. They got kicked out of the restaurant for fighting with one another. Smiling, she remembered she still had the pictures they took that night in a photo booth.

Hana had been so deep in thought that she wondered deep into the woods. She cursed at herself for being self-absorbed. She didn't know which way was which. She sat down on a nearby rock and listened to the streaming waters beside her. She looked into the stream and found the color very similar to Thunder's eye color. Dammit, why can't I get him outta my head?

Glancing upward, she noticed the stars in the sky were shining brighter than usual. Hana thanked the ancient that school was out for another two months. It was already three in the morning there, "Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight," She silently closed her eyes and made her wish. Thunder…

Her eyes shot open. No way…it couldn't be…

Hana Rai Utano just heard Thunder say her name, "Okay, this is weird. Let's see if it'll work again."

<><><>

The king and queen’s personal guard walked into the sitting room while they were discussing plans to retrieve the heir to the German throne, "My Lord. My Lady. Your transportation is ready when you are."

"Thank you, guard. You may leave," King Thaitus replied. He rose from his throne and ordered his other guards to gather his luggage and the queen’s. He turned to his wife, "Are you ready, Lila?"

"Thaitus, don't you think you're being irrational about this? He may not want us in his life right now," Queen Lila rose from her seat as well and walked over to her husband, "I'm begging you, leave him be. He seems happy with his life right now."

Thaitus grabbed his wife by the arm, "Lila, I know full and well that he probably doesn't want us in his life; however, as heir to the German throne, he must come home. His life now be damned! My son will never be allowed back into that filthy country with those pathetic commoners again! Do you understand me?"

Lila winced a little under the pressure of her husband’s arm. She nodded, "Yes, my king," She felt him release her and throw her to the ground.

"Good. Come to the plane. We're leaving immediately. " Thaitus left and followed the guards out of the room.

"Oh, my son. I'm so sorry, but we must ensure you as the right ruler of Germany or our country will be lost," Lila said silently. She picked herself up and left to board the plane..

Hana was extremely surprised to hear Thunder’s voice. In fact she almost fainted right there. Yet she managed to keep her composure. ’Thunder! It’s been a long time! Um, how are you?’

Hana frowned with concern, though her heart was pounding beneath her chest. The image of him in the basement that one time without his shirt on, was making her drool again, and now to hear his voice, her dream to hear from him again had come true.. Now if only she could.. ‘Feeling under pressure? Why?’

Thunder decided to change the subject though as he didn’t want to think about it anymore. He asked how things were going on her life, and she told him, smiling as he seemed to be coming more out of his shyness. ‘It’s going great.. We saw you on TV.. Congratulations.’

‘You were so good!’ Not to mention hot, she added to herself.

Thunder disconnected from her and sighed to himself. It had been easier than he had thought he had realized. He turned over onto his stomach and closed his eyes. Soon he drifted off to sleep.

Back inside the house, Ryo and Mia were just turning in for the night. Both of them were extremely tired from the day's events. Mia sat down on the bed and watched Ryo strip to his boxers and reach or his nightshirt. She had a sad look on her face, "Um, Ryo?"

Ryo turned around just as he was pulling the shirt over his head, "Yeah?"

Mia bit her lower lip, "I'm sorry for the way I've been acting towards you these past few months. I know everyone says it's hard on you, but I have to bring this child into the world. I'm afraid I'm doing something wrong. What if the baby isn't healthy? What if someone else attacks? What if I'm not a good mother? What if…" She felt Ryo's lips press up against hers. After a few seconds, he pulled away.

"Mia, nothing's going to happen to you while I'm around. I'll protect you and my child with my life. Listen, you're doing everything just fine. The doctor said the baby was healthy when you went for the checkup," He sat down beside her and took a hold of her hand, "You're going to be a great mother, Mia. There's no doubt in my mind that you won't be."

"Oh Ryo, I needed to hear that," Mia said sweetly. She leaned in to give him a kiss, but she jerked away, "Oh!"

"What?"

Mia smiled, "The baby just kicked. Here, give me your hand," She took Ryo's hand and placed it on her enlarged belly.

Ryo almost screamed. His baby. His and Mia's creation of life was responding to them. He looked up at Mia with eyes of pure joy, "I can't believe I'm going to be a father. Did the doctor ever call you back with the gender?"

"Yes."

"Well?"

Mia smiled a bit. Should she tell him or tease him? "I'm having a boy, Ryo. You're going to have a son."

At that moment, Ryo picked Mia up and spun her around while kissing her with all his might. He stopped and sat her down, "I'm going to have a boy!"

Mia stood back up and pulled the covers down on the bed and she climbed in. She nodded for Ryo to come to bed. He did. She placed her head on his warm chest and heard his heartbeat, "Thought of any names yet?"

Ryo smiled, "Yeah. Hiroshi Sanada."

"Generous. I like that," With that said, Mia snuggled closer to Ryo's body to gather his heat. Ryo smiled and wrapped his arms protectively around his lover. Nothing would harm her as long as he was here. White Blaze nudged open the door to the couples room and, lazily, plopped down on the rug at the foot of the bed. He was going to protect his master and mistress till the end.