Akito and Megumi looked over at the man who had just saved their lives.

"Who is that," Megumi asked.

"Master Komatsuzaki."

Megumi took in the figure before her. His long black hair swaying with the wind and his royal purple eyes locked on the two of them. Kazuki put his sword back in its sheath.

"Akito," Kazuki said warmly. "I see your reaction time has gotten much better."

Akito broke eye contact with him, put his mother down and then look up towards him again.

"Really," Akito responded. "I actually didn't notice."

Kazuki lifted an eyebrow at Akito's response.

"Hmm. So you're saying after all that just happened at that moment, you didn't notice a slight change that's been happening within you?"

"Well now that you mention it, I have been noticing things more. Like my awareness is increasing."

Kazuki brought his arms across his chest and bowed his head slightly.

"That's just part of the process. If you were still a normal alien, you both would be dead right now." He brought his head up to face them again and reached into his kimono to grab some papers out of it. "I brought you something that I need you to fill out."

"What is it," Megumi asked.

"The Alien Warrior Academy application form," Kazuki replied. "Akito here has displayed enough power within him to be accepted into the academy."

"Akito," Megumi exclaimed. "But how?"

"Space monsters like the one you just saw, feed on Alien Flesh.However, the more power an Alien has within him, the more desirable he is to that monster. Normally, they won't attack areas with powerless being."

"What's the point," Megumi cried. "Why would they do this?"

"You could say that it's in their nature but also when a space monster consumes an alien with power. That Alien's power will be absorbed in that monster."

Megumi's eyes went wide. "So you're saying that they're now targeting Akito?" Kazuki nodded. "What can we do about that?"

"Get him into this school so he fight them and so he can protect you too."

Akito went over and rested his hand on his mother's shoulder. "It's okay, I want to go to this school." He looked over at Kazuki. "Master, let's fill out this form."

Akito led Kazuki and Megumi back to the house where he filled out the application form and gave it back to Kazuki with a smile.

"Thank you for helping me out again," Akito said as he turned towards him and bowed.

"It's no problem." Kazuki looked around the house that only had the three of them occupied in it. "Where are those kids that were here the other day?"

"They're in school," Megumi said.

"I see."

Megumi got up and walked towards the irori. "But you're welcome to stay a bit longer. Shall I put on some tea?"

Kazuki gave her a warm smile. "I'd love some."

Megumi lit the fire and poked at the wood to make sure it would be enough to boil the water that had been sitting in the teapot that had been hanging from the rope. Akito and Kazuki went over and took a seat on the zabuton by the fire.

"Anyway," Akito said. "I've been meaning to ask you. How is miss Lia doing?"

"She's doing much better than that day." Kazuki took his sword out of his obi and set it beside him. "The sickness she has been fighting is now over for her."

"That's good to hear but," Akito paused and inhaled, letting the breath he took in build up his courage. "Remember when I joked about you being soul marked to a human?" Akito looked down and scrunched up his ragged kimono. "Is it true? Why were you fighting so hard for her?"

Kazuki's eyes widened with shock but he turned his gaze towards the teapot which started to boil. The sound of the pot whistling filled the room. Megumi got up and poured tea for everyone.

She set Kazuki's down in front of him. She looked into his eyes, full of worry. "Kazuki is that really true?" She turned towards Akito. "Did you really bring a human back?"

"It's true," Kazuki replied. "We brought a human back and not only am I soul marked to her." He took a sip of his tea and lifted his head up. "She's also the reincarnation of my late wife."

Megumi dropped the tea tray and brought both her hands to her mouth and took a few steps back.

"So that's why you were fighting so hard to protect her," Akito acknowledged.

"To bring a human back is a grave sin," Megumi trembled. "And you got Akito involved in this."

"I understand why you're worried. If it's anyone the king will come after, it'll be me." Kazuki noticed the worried expression on both their faces. "But don't worry, she's not exactly human anymore."

"She's not," Akito exclaimed.

Kazuki nodded. "Yes, and I'll get her into the academy too. She'll need to learn how to control the powers awakening inside of her."

"Can we hear about your late wife," Megumi said taking her seat beside Kazuki to let him know that she's calmed down.

Kazuki took another sip of his tea and stared at the reflection the tea water gave off. "Do you know the story of how the Komatsuzaki clan was destroyed about two hundred years ago?"

Akito shook his head but Megumi nodded her head.

"I heard the story from a friend of mine when I was only sixteen. It's a very popular story that everyone knew when I was a teenager but the kids nowadays don't seem to pay that much attention to history like we did then."

"I see. Well, my wife and I used to be a part of that clan. Her name was Rina. When the castle was attacked. We both ran away like cowards and I wasn't aware of how bad her injuries were. The residence where I live in now is where we tried escaping to. We never made it there, she collapsed in the forest and died in my arms there. I wasn't strong enough to protect her. So I swore to myself that if we ever met again, I would protect her with my life."

Kazuki looked over at Megumi who eyes had filled with sorrow and they spilled out in front of him. He smiled and wiped away her tears.

"I'm sorry," she sobbed.

"It's alright but now things will be different. I will protect everyone, Akito too."

Megumi was overcome with joy so she threw her arms around him.

"Thank you."

The kids came rushing in, full of energy after coming home from school and started filling the room with laughter. One of the kids ran up to Kazuki, unsheathed his sword and started running around with it. Megumi's screams filled the room, knowing what could happen if something goes wrong.

"Hey," Akito shouted. "That's not something to play with."

"Kazuki," Megumi shouted. "Do something!"

Kazuki pointed two fingers at the child swinging his sword around like a toy. "Binding spell level one, Restrain."

The child instantly dropped the sword, having it fall to his side. He fell to his knees and arms were at his back unable to move. Kazuki picked up the sword and put it back at his side.

"That was a close one." Kazuki touched the boy's shoulder. "Release."

The boy could move around again and went back to playing.

"I probably should get going, you two seem to have your hands pretty full."

They said their goodbyes and Kazuki headed out of the house. He walked over to the ocean side and was greeted by a woman with shorter height, hair as black as his and eyes the colour of the sea. The Master of District twenty.

"Funny to see your presence here so much as of lately, Kazuki."

"Emiko."

"So tell me, why is the master of district one so interested in Akito."

"I have my reasons but I suggest that you get someone from your district to patrol this village."

Kazuki leaped into the sky and made his way back home.

*

Himeko and Lia spent the day together shopping for things she needed but they also found time to do some Christmas shopping which they surprising got done in one day. They headed back home, which was pretty late. The sun had been long set and the stars shone brightly in the sky. Lia dropped her stuff off in her room and got ready for bed. She heard the front door open and rushed downstairs since she knew it was Kazuki.

"Kazuki."

Kazuki looked up and smiled at Lia who was hanging onto the banister. "Hello, Lia."

"Your back," she said softly with a warm smile.

Kazuki smiled back at her and she came down the stairs and greeted him.

"I would just like to say thank you. Thank you for saving my life and letting me stay here."

"It's no problem, I did it because I wanted to." Kazuki rested his hand on the top of her head.

"I really had a great time today. It was really fun. I enjoyed spending the day with your wife, she really is amazing. But anyway, goodnight."

Lia ran up the stairs. "Goodnight, Lia." She stopped in her tracks and turned to face him with a smile, then continued up the stairs and went off to bed.

Himeko came over to greet him but noticed the huge grin on his face.

"What's so funny?"

"She thinks you're my wife."

Himeko giggled. "Should I tell her I'm not?"

"I would leave it for now. Let her believe that, and don't let her into that one room. I don't want her to find out about Rina."

"Understood."