Lia and Himeko have been training every day for the past couple of months. Lia was now able to fight more efficiently alongside Himeko.

They were clashing swords in the same spot they had first been with the trees giving off enough shade to shield them. As they were training, Himeko felt a sensation coming from Lia's short sword and quickly pulled back. Lia ran towards Himeko but was blocked by a shield spell that Lia wasn't familiar with. Himeko put her sword away. 

"That's enough for now," Himeko said. 

"Why? What happened." 

"Nothing. Let's take a break. I just need to find Kazuki and discuss something with him." 

Lia put her sword away and felt a bolt of excitement rush through her entire being. She nodded at Himeko and ran through the forest surrounding the Komatsuzaki mansion until she reached the seaside. 

I have been getting so much stronger. Does that mean I'm finally ready to finally become a protective warrior? In other words, a Samurai? In that case, I wonder what Himeko could be discussing with Kazuki!

She went over to the water and listened to the waves. A memory of Kazuki came back to her to when he told her that he had feelings for her. A smile formed on Lia but then it fell away as she was reminded by Himeko's words, asking her if she was ready to serve under him as a subordinate. 

"I don't know anymore Himeko", Lia whispered. "I want to become a protective warrior and all but, I really like Kazuki. Now, I feel like that would be too hard."

Then Lia could hear the sound of a woman singing. She clenched the hilt of her sword as she knew that wasn't normal. Nobody comes to this little island because of it being unseen to those who don't have the key to see it. She thought it may be a mermaid and decided to follow the sound until she found the woman washing her hair. The woman was singing a sweet tune in the beautiful soprano voice she had. Lia decided to join in this woman's song, matching her voice and they both sang together with a clear ringing vibrato. Then the woman suddenly stopped once she noticed Lia's presence.

"Hello," Lia said to break the awkwardness. "I'm sorry, it's just I wasn't expecting someone else to be here. You have a lovely voice too. Anyway, my name's Lia. It's nice to meet you." 

"Rina," the woman replied. 

"No! Lia." She giggled in response. "But anyway, how did you find this island and what's your name?" 

The woman gave Lia a sweet smile. "Your Rina aren't you Lia?" 

"Huh?" Lia just gave the woman a confused look. 

"May 31st. The disaster of when the Komatsuzaki clan fell and she was taken from him. But also his parents lives too, stuck with their infant daughter. You look like her and your voice proves it too." 

Lia was stunned. That date was not only the day of her birth but she noticed that Kazuki would always go off and disappear on that day every year. She shook it off and tried to pretend that she knew nothing. 

"What are you talking about. I'm just Lia. I heard you singing and joined in. I took voice lessons as a kid but I couldn't continue with them under certain circumstances." 

"You asked what I'm doing here?" Lia just nodded. "I simply came here to wash my hair." 

Lia was getting more confused than ever. This woman just keeps going off into something that isn't relevant to what she's saying other than that she's somehow connected to this Rina.

"With salt water? Couldn't you simply just go take a shower?" The woman still said nothing but continued to work her fingers through her long black hair. "Are you a mermaid or something," Lia jokingly asked. 

"Lia, come sit beside me."

Lia stepped over the rock and leaned on the bigger rock that hid them both from sight. Then Lia saw that this woman was not human and that she had a long tail that wasn't a fish's tail either. She's not a space monster but still a demon of this world and that's when Lia felt uneasy.

"It's okay, you can touch my tail."

Lia was shocked at first but reached out her hand to touch the tail but she quickly pulled it back at the wet, slippery sensation she felt.

"You're a Nure-Onna," Lia said. "A snake woman." 

Lia quickly got up and began to run away from the creature but she was being chased at an alarming speed so she decided to draw her sword. The creature's tail hit the blade just as Lia was trying to block its attack which sent her flying into the air. Lia quickly regained control in the air and forced her way down to engage in her first battle. Just as Lia's feet reached the ground, the snake woman grabbed both her in a tight embrace with her tail, pinning her arms to her side so she couldn't fight. 

"A new Alien Warrior such as yourself don't have a chance against me," she said. 

With that, the snake woman launched herself at Lia's neck and began to slowly drink from her. Lia struggled against it but knew she had to calm down. The tail loosened its grip on Lia as it focused only on the blood it was stealing from her. Lia was then able to get her arms free and stabbed her sword into the tail. The creature screamed out in pain and released Lia from its grip. Then Lia sliced the creature's tongue off and jumped back to make some distance between them. She pointed her finger up and began to chant a spell. 

"Ye lord. Mask of flesh and bone, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Truth and temperance, upon this wall of purple flame. Unleash the power and wrath of your claws. Alien destruction spell number one, purple wrath flame." 

She pointed her finger at the creature and unleashed a purple flame from within her, destroying the creature before her. Lia sheathed her sword and then fell to her knees. 

"I...just killed something." Lia's hands in front of her began to shake after she came to the realization of what she had just done. Then Lia could sense she wasn't alone and shot her head in the direction of the trees where Kazuki had been the entire time. 

"Kazuki," Lia said as she fought the tears forming in her eyes. She ran into Kazuki with and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, trying to control the shaking. Kazuki said nothing and held her close to him. Lia finally stopped shaking and loosened her grip on him. 

"I'm sorry," she said as she took in a deep breath. "It was my first time I had to kill something. I was in danger and couldn't just let her drink all my blood. But still...even though she was a demon...did I really do the right thing?"

"Nure-Onna are a danger to society," Kazuki said. "Letting her go would mean putting someone else's life in danger."

"But she was still someone! Someone who you could talk to like you would a human, and she had a gift that most humans don't have."

Lia backed away from Kazuki and he stared her down in an attempt for her to understand.

"Nure-Onna cannot co-exist with aliens or humans." 

Lia stood her ground. "But isn't that what it means to be a protective warrior? To protect all life."

Kazuki saw a flash of Rina that was in Lia, but he quickly shook off the image of seeing her as his late wife. "No. Our job is to protect those that are not a danger to society. That singing voice you heard was nothing but an illusion. It's how they lure in their victims. Only that victim can hear the sweet sound before being devoured by it. Others can hear snake-like sounds.

Lia backed down and faced the ground. "You mean, you never heard her and..."

"I heard you though." Kazuki's gaze softened up and Lia faced him again. "What was that song."

Lia softly smiled. "It's from my favourite musical in the west end. Wishing you were somehow here again from the Phantom of the Opera."

"I knew it sounded familiar. I've seen it once on Broadway."

"Really. It used to be my dream to play the role of Christine one day, but we all know that will never happen. Do Aliens get to travel to earth often?"

"Yes, but we can't stay there long since we don't age like humans." Kazuki turned to walk back to the house. "Come, there's something I would like to give you."

Lia followed behind Kazuki and started to walk beside him. 

"Lia," Kazuki began. "It's great you're training to become a strong warrior and all but, don't focus your energy into only this. You should focus on other things. District five is actually a theatre district. Master Kiyoko Akiyama is on vacation in London. So it's possible she may bring the Phantom here so she'll be looking for actors in the summer."

Lia's eyes lit up. "Really! When does she get back?"

"I haven't heard from her lately. She's been gone since last year and I just recently gave her until the beginning of July to come back.  The last I've heard from her, she was actually playing the alternate Christine on West End."

Lia's jaw dropped. "She's so lucky. I wish!"

Kazuki and Lia got back to where Himeko was still waiting. 

"That was a long break," Himeko said a little irritated. "What were you doing?" 

"Himeko," Kazuki said. "I need both you and Lia in my office right away."

"Which one? Japanese or western style one?" 

"Japanese style one."

Himeko and Lia looked at each other. 

"I'll go with," Himeko said. "This must be serious. You go wait in there." 

Then Himeko ran after Kazuki. Lia went to the Japanese style office of Kazuki and sat down on the tatami floor, sitting on her knees. Once Kazuki and Himeko entered the room, Lia bowed to them and they sat in front of her. 

"Lia," Kazuki. "After seeing you battle with the Nure-Onna. We have finally seen that you are becoming strong enough to eventually train your own sword in which your own unique power will be revealed." 

"In order to do that," Himeko said. "It goes far beyond the basic training you have been doing with me. You must become one with the sword and find that unique power that is hidden deep within your heart." 

"That power," Kazuki said. "May be one of light or darkness. But you yourself must become strong enough to control it no matter if it scares you or not. My unique power, which you have not seen yet. Is one of darkness. It is very powerful, but I have become experienced enough to control so it doesn't consume me."

"But be careful," Himeko said. "Not just the powers of darkness can consume you. Light can also sneak up on you and consume you when you least expect it."

"One way to control it," Kazuki said. "Is to keep it concealed in an object. We all keep ours sealed in Katana's and that is something I would like to present to you today. Your very own Katana."

Kazuki then gave Lia a Katana with a purple and white hilt that had a white sheath. 

"Thank you," Lia said as she honourably accepted the sword. 

"That sword is the twin sword of my black and purple one," Kazuki explained. "It used to belong to my late wife of over 200 years ago, and now I present that sword to you."

"It's an honour, Kazuki. I'm very thankful." Lia turned towards Himeko. "Are you ready to go back out and train now?" 

Before Himeko could answer. Kazuki cut in. "With that sword, you will train with me tonight. You will see your unique power revealed before the sunsets." 

Lia took a deep breath and nodded. She then followed Kazuki out and she could already see that the sun was going down. She realized she may only have a little over an hour to show him. They went to where she and Himeko were used to training. Lia's heart felt as if it were beating a hundred miles an hour. She saw Kazuki draw his sword for the first time so she also drew to face him. 

"Are you ready Lia?" 

"I'm ready." 

"Alright. Kazuki then put his sword above him and moved his hand over it slowly. "Awaken! Kurayami! Then the normal blade turned into a deep purple colour, revealing its danger. "Now, do not lose focus." Then Kazuki disappeared from Lia's sight and the next moment, she was flying upward. She couldn't feel any pain or even see what had just happened. Then she saw Kazuki flying upward with her, the only difference was that his was controlled. Then he aimed a hit directly for her sword which sent her flying back down. Lia gained control back and laned on her feet. 

Himeko then came out to watch the training that Kazuki was giving her. 

"What are you doing," Himeko yelled. "Don't let him get any hits on you!" 

"I'm trying but he's just too strong for me, Lia yelled back." 

Then Kazuki landed beside her and she took off running. In which she was not successful in running away. His speed was far more advanced and could easily get in front of her. 

"Didn't I teach you not to run away?" 

"Yelling at me really isn't helping right now!"

Kazuki kept appearing beside Lia and she finally blocked his sword. Kazuki then increased his power level which strained Lia's body so she ran away from him again. Then he landed a hit on her left leg and then Lia's movements started to get slower in that leg until she could no longer move it and was now dragging it behind. That's it hit her, Kazuki's unique power was paralysis. 

"Your power is paralysis," Lia shouted. 

"Almost," Kazuki said. "My unique power is a power type but it does much more than paralysis, but you won't see any of that today."

Lia then continued to battle Kazuki, blocking his attacks. Her body began to feel very heavy and her vision began to blur. She could no longer see Kazuki or Himeko clearly. 

"You must open your heart to find that power," Kazuki said just before Lia lost consciousness and fell to the ground. "Sleep, Kurayami." The sword's power was then sealed up and Kazuki sheathed his sword. He went up and picked up Lia and looked towards the setting sun. "Hang in there Lia. I know you can do it." Kazuki and Himeko then got a futon out in one of the tatami rooms and placed in the futon. He then held her hand to support her in the inner battle she would be having.