"So when do you think we'll see Master Togo again?" Lani asked, pulling her hair out of its loose bun to shake the last of the star dust from it.

"Your guess is as good as mine." Devona replied. "I don't even know where we should go next."

"Excuse me!" someone called to them. They turned, looking at one of the Adepts Suun had mentioned. "If I may make a suggestion?"

"Go ahead."

"Now that you have become Weh no Su, you can seek the advice and assistance of Cantha's ancient heroes. You should travel to Tahnnakai Temple and speak with the spirits that reside there."

"Seems as good a plan as any." Talon said thoughtfully. "Shall we go then? There is a chance we may run into Master Togo there."

"We might as well." Lani replied. "Could you give us directions? I'm sure at least half of us have never been there before." She asked the Adept, and he happily complied. After making sure they had the directions memorized, he sent them on their way.

The redhead grimaced when they entered the Shenzun Tunnels. "More sewers..." she grumbled. "Who in their right mind would build a temple in the sewers?"

"Perhaps the sewers were not here when the temple was built." Aidan suggested. "It might have been out of necessity that they were later built up around the temple."

"Look, I think that's the entrance up there." Panaku pointed out. A guard stood in front of the lowered gate, looking quite bored.

"Excuse us!" Sister Tai called to the man. "We were wondering if you could let us in?"

"None but those of imperial blood may enter." He replied.

"But... We're friends of Master Togo."

"Suuuuure you are." The guard snorted. "And I'm the emperor himself. As I said before, none but those of imperial blood may enter. Now be gone!"

Brother Mhenlo chose that moment to show up. He looked as though he had been running to catch up to them, his breath coming in short ragged gasps for air. "Tahnnakai Temple will have to wait." He said between pants. "Nika and the Obsidian Flame have fallen under attack by the afflicted, and Master Togo wants us to help defend them. He sent me to find you."

"Let her defend herself." Cynn snapped, folding her arms over her chest stubbornly.

"Cynn, this is no time to be selfish! They are all in danger! We must hurry to join Master Togo before they are all killed."

"Lead the way then, Brother Mhenlo." Zho said. As soon as the Monk caught his breath, he was off running again.

--

The Temple was normally peaceful... Or as Vizu put it, painfully boring. It wasn't often they got visitors, but recently, there had been fewer people coming to talk to the eight spirits residing within the temple's walls. Even Emperor Kisu had not come for quite some time. The last any of them had heard, a plague was threatening to destroy Cantha. At first, she had been happy she was already dead, but then the plague started creeping closer to the temple, and she realized it was far worse news that she had originally thought. It was not a natural plague, and she had a feeling she knew who was causing it.

The sight of the massive man dressed in red and gold armor standing near the entrance of the temple only confirmed her suspicions. "I knew you would come." She said, trying to keep the fear from her voice. If he knew, he would only feed off it and become stronger. He was already too much of a force to be reckoned with.

"Did you?" He sounded amused, as though he had called her bluff.

"You're not the type to give up on a grudge."

"You're right." She tensed as he stepped closer to her, hands poised to reach for her blades even though she knew she was no match for him.

"What is it you want?"

"Want? From you? Just a little revenge." He drew his blades and slashed at her. She was quick to respond to the sudden action, flipping her own blades out and blocking him. It was a struggle just to keep those blades from crushing her down.

"Last time we met, I beat you Shiro. I will beat you again!"

He grinned down at the Assassin hero�s tiny form pinned down under his blades. "It's different now. This time, I'm facing you."

"You can't kill me Shiro; I'm already dead!"

"It was never my plan to kill you. I'm going to force you to be my ally, to fight by my side."

"You'll have to catch me first!" She shoved up against his blades as hard as she could to push him off and ran as quickly as her legs would carry her.

"You coward." Shiro growled. "Last time you stabbed me in the back, this time you run. I shall reserve for you a special torture, one for the weak and the honorless." He threatened as he made his way further into the temple. It didn't matter if Vizu heard him or not. The others did.

--

The temple guard jerked to attention as the group approached him once more, ready to turn them down again until he saw Togo traveling with them. "You weren't lying..." he muttered, about as close to an apology as they would get. "Well, if you are traveling with the emperor's brother, then I can let you enter." He pushed his key into the lock and turned it, the gate lifting with a groan. "It is an honor that you are allowed beyond this gate, so show the proper respect."

"Yes, sir." Lani quipped with a grin before following Togo and Mhenlo inside.

"Master Togo! Thank the gods you are here!" One of the temple Monks ran over to them, looking distressed. "The spirits! They are in great peril! Oh please, you must hurry!"

"It seems Shiro beat us here..." Mhenlo growled under his breath.

Togo nodded. "Come! There is no time to spare!" The Monks hurried to open the inner gate, letting them pass through. "I have no doubt Shiro has come to exact his revenge on Vizu, and there is no telling how long she'll be able to hold out against him."