"That's it!  Put a little more ki into it."  Kenshin says.  It is very early in the morning.  Kenshin and Iris are outside the inn.  Iris used the sunglasses last night to find out about ki, and how to use it, to a small extent.  After one day she has already learned to fly.  She just doesn't fly that well right now.  "She is quite the girl."  Kenshin thinks.  "It hasn't been one day and she can fly."  Iris loses her concentration for a second and fall back to the ground.  Thankfully she lands on her feet.

                "That's hard."  She says.  She is a bit winded but not much.

                "It'll get easier the more you practice."  Kenshin says.

                "Hey!"  Elsa yells at the two from the window of her room.  "Get back in here and eat breakfast!"

                "We're coming."  Kenshin yells back.  Elsa closer her window.

                "Thank God!"  Iris says.  "I'm hungry."

                "So am I."  They head inside to eat.

                About an hour later Keshin, Iris, Sen, and Gabriel have said their goodbyes to Elsa and the villagers and are already on their way.  The villagers decided not to kill the Black Knights.  Instead they are going to keep them imprisioned in the village.  They gladly gave Kenshin and the group some supplies and warmer clothing to help them over the mountains.  Even though it is still too early for snow some travelers passing through said they saw some.  About a half an hour after leaving the village they have entered the mountains.  Kenshin is leading both his and Iris' horse.  Iris is using the sunglasses to learn more about ki and study some magic.  Sen and Gabriel are trotting alongside them.  "If we follow this path and keep the pace we've been traveling at,"  Gabriel says.  "We should be in the next town in two, maybe three days."

                "Good to know."  Kenshin says.

                "The only problem is," Sen says.  "I don't have any connections on the other side of the mountains."

                "You never came on the other side of these mountains, Sen?"  Iris asks.

                "Of course I have."  He says.  "I just don't know many people."

                "I didn't stay in any one place for too long when I came through here."  Gabriel says.  "I knew I had to get to Daniel's as soon as possible."

                "And as for me," Kenshin says.  "I was only a little boy the last time I was on the other side of these mountains."

                "At least you've been across them."  Iris says.  "The furthest I had ever been away from my parent's farm, before all of this, was to Sen's hometown."  Everyone is quiet for a few minutes.  Then Iris asks Kenshin, "Hey Kenshin, how long do you think it will take me to fly as fast as you?"

                "I'm not sure."  Kenshin says.  "It depends on how often you practice and train.  But when you master using your ki, you'll be able to do more than just fly fast."  Kenshin says.

                "Really?"  Iris asks.  "What else will I be able to do?"

                "Well..."  He thinks for a second.  "You'll be able to move really fast, faster than a normal person can even see.  You'll become really strong.  You'll be able to use attacks that will appear to be magical, but they won't be."

                "Like those things you used last night?"  Iris asks.

                Kenshin thinks for a second.  "Yeah.  Plus your magic will increase a little bit."

                "So this ki, it is different from your magic?"  Gabriel asks.

                "Yeah.  Ki is a person's life force, the energy within you."  Kenshin explains.

                "Oh.  So anyone can use it?"  Gabriel asks.

                "Yeah.  I can teach you, if you want."  Kenshin turns to Sen.  "I taught Sen a few things, even though he could sense ki before I taught him."

                "Is it hard?"  Gabriel asks.

                "Well let's see...How do I answer that?"  Kenshin thinks for a second.  Then he figures it out.  "It would be easier for you to learn how to use your ki then for you to learn to use a few low level magical spells."

                "Really?"

                "Yeah.  Ki has more to do with your body than magic does.  Since your a knight I would have to say you could learn to use ki without that much difficultly."

                "Actually, I'm techniqually a Paladin."  Gabriel says.

                "A Paladin?!?"  Kenshin, Iris, and Sen all say in shock.

                "Then you know some magic!"  Kenshin says happily.               "I can only cast a healing spell right now."  Gabriel says in shame.

                "That's all right!"  Kenshin says as he tries to cheer Gabriel up.  "A healing spell can't be used on the caster.  So we have three people who can cast healing spells.  If something happens to one of us then the others can still heal that person."

                "I guess so."  Iris says.  They continue on, following the winding path through the mountains.  "Isn't there any easier path?"  Iris asks.  "I don't like all this going up and down, and going left and right."

                "Unfortunately no."  Gabriel says.  "This is the quickest way.  There are easier paths, but they are far to the east and west."

                "We could just teleport."  Iris says.

                "Teleport?"  Sen asks.

                "Yeah.  We could just teleport to the castle, beat Argo, and end this whole adventure."

                "You mean we've been walking and riding all this way...for nothing?"  Gabriel asks.  "If we could have just gone to the castle why didn't we?"  He asks Iris.  She shrugs her shoulder and points to Kenshin.  "Well Kenshin!"  Gabriel demands.

                "Everything we have done, and everything that we will do has a purpose."  He says.  "We cannot beat Argo as we are now.  He is too powerful.  We must become a great deal stronger if we are to have a chance."

                "Where are we headed anyway?"  Sen asks.  "If we're not going to confront Argo and since we are going north, I presume we are not headed for the castle."

                "We are going to the great mountains in the north.  Father hid a sword there.  He said it had incredible power."

                "The mountains to the north?"  Sen asks.  "You mean the Frozen Deaths?"

                "I think that's there name."  Kenshin says.  "I heard father talk about them once before.  He said that they lie so far north and are at such a high altitude that they will never melt."

                "And most of the people who ever attempted to climb them have died."  Sen says.

                "And we have to climb them?"  Iris asks.

                "Only if we want the sword."  Kenshin says.  Everyone stops dead in their tracks as the howl of a wolf is heard.

                "A wolf?"  Iris asks.  "I didn't know there were any wolves around here."

                "There are wolves almost everywhere."  Gabriel says.

                "Not to worry though.  That one was pretty far away."  They start to move when another howl is heard.  But this one is different.

                "That wasn't the same wolf."  Kenshin says.  "It was the same distance, but that wolf sounded younger and...and..."  He thinks for a second.

                "And what?"  Iris asks.  Kenshin floats into the air.  "Hey!"  Iris yells at him.

                "I'll be back in a second."  He says as his gray aura flares up around him.  He streaks off in the air.

                "Where is he going?"  Iris asks no one imparticular.

                "Do you need to ask?"  Sen asks her.  "He's going to find that wolf and see what's wrong."

                "But that howl could have come from anywhere."  Iris says.

                "It could have carried from anywhere in this range."  Gabriel says.  "And this range is pretty big."

                "All Kenshin has to do is sense the wolf's life force.  It's not hard.  He's probably already found it."  Sen says.

                And indeed Kenshin has already found the wolves, a mother and its pup.  The mother is an average sized adult.  The pup is maybe a year old.  The mother is sitting near its pup, whose leg is caught in a trap.  The mother gets up and growls as Kenshin lands near it.  "The pup's leg is probably borken."  Kenshin thinks as he approaches them.  The mother steps in front of the pup to protect it.  "It's all right."  Kenshin says.  But the mother doesn't back down.  "No problem."  Kenshin thinks.  "All I have to do is cast a calming spell."  He holds out his hand to the wolves.  Waves of white rings, kind of like ripples on a pond, come from his hand.  They flow over the wolves.  It takes a few seconds, but the wolves slowly calm down.  "Now let me help your pup."  Kenshin tells the mother wolf.  She backs away.  "Thank you."  Kenshin walks over to the pup and takes a look.  "Just like I thought, broken."  Kenshin grabs the jaws of the trap and wrenches them back.  The pup limps out and sits near his mother.  Kenshin tosses the trap in the air and destroys it with a fire ball.  "Now then,"  He walks over to the pup and takes its leg in his hands.  He casts a simple healing spell on it.  Slowly the leg's wound disappear, until the leg looks normal.  "There!"  Kenshin says as he pats the wolf's head.  The pup returns Kenshin's kindness with a small lick.  "Thanks.  Now you two get going."  Kenshin pats their heads before they run off.  Kenshin laughs and he flies off.  He is completely unaware that he was being watched by a Black Knight.

                "So those fools at the foot of the mountains let a sorcerer get through?"  He thinks.  "Looks like I'll have to deal with him."

                "So you healed it, huh?"  Gabriel asks Kenshin as they continue on.

                "Of course.  Why wouldn't I?"  Kenshin asks.

                "Because it was a wolf."  Gabriel continues.  "They're mean animals that will attack anything and anyone."

                "Not true."  Sen says.  "They are pack animals that only kill the weak, old, and injured.  They help to keep the populations of other animals from getting too large.  If that were to happen then they would use up their available food supply and starve."

                "Really?"  Gabriel asks.

                "Yep."  Sen says.

                "It's true.  You learn something new everyday."  They all have a good laugh.  "Come on let's go."

                They continue on at the same pace.  "Huh?"  Iris says.  She stops as the others continue on a little further before stopping.

                "What is it Iris?"  Sen asks.

                "I thought I heard something."  She says.

                "I didn't hear anything."  Gabriel says.

                "Neither did I."  Kenshin says.  "Don't fall behind."  They continue on for about 15 more minutes.  Iris keeps stopping and swearing that she is hearing something.  "Come on Iris."  Kenshin says.  He is obviously annoyed.

                "I swear I heard something."  Iris insists.

                "Stop."  Kenshin has finally reached his limit with dealing with this.  "If there's anything out there I'll sense it."  He closes his eyes and concentrates.  As he increases his concentrates the area he can feel increases as well.  He begins to sense the birds, trees, and even the bugs around him.  He can even sense that the wolves are pretty close to the group.  But suddenly he notices something.  "What's that?"  He thinks.  There is an area of nothingness, a dead area.  Kenshin concentrates on that area.  Slowly the dead area takes a shape, "A man?"  Kenshin thinks.  Kenshin snaps back to reality.  "Iris!"  He yells.

                But it's too late.  The Black Knight that has been following them jumps out and grabs Iris.  He brings her arm around and brings a knife to her throat.  "Caught you napping."  He says with a smile.

                "Dammit."  Kenshin starts to move at the Black Knight, but he brings the knife even closer to Iris' throat.

                "Hold it right there hero."  He says.

                "Another Black Knight?"  Sen asks.

                "But I thought we caught them all?"  Gabriel asks.

                "Caught them?"  The Black Knight thinks.  He thinks for a second, then understands.  "I see.  Your little group here beat my comrades.  No matter.  You will all die here anyway."

                "How did you do it?"  Kenshin asks.

                "Do what?"  The Black Knight asks.

                "How did you hide your life force?  I should have been able to sense it from more than a mile away."

                "So you can sense my aura.  The armor."  The Knight says.  "The armor made it appear that I was dead to you.  All the armors of all the Black Knights are linked.  They gain knowledge through every battle that every Black Knight is in.  So if you fought my comrades back in that town the armor must have gained the ablity to appear dead to you."  The Black Knight looks around at Kenshin, Gabriel, Sen.  "If they really did beat all of the other Black Knights, then I have no hope of winning."  He thinks.  "I can deal them a nasty blow though."  He prepares to slit Iris' throat.

                "No."  Kenshin knows what's going to happen.  "There's nothing I can do.  I can't attack with him hold Iris like that."  He thinks.  Then an idea pops into his head.  "It's a long shot, but I have no choice."  He lowers his head and concentrates.  "Iris, can you hear me?"  Kenshin calls out in his mind.

                "Yeah."  Iris answers in her head.

                "Listen carefully."  He quickly tells Iris his plan.

                "Giving up?"  The Black Knight asks.

                "No."  Kenshin answers.  Unknown to the Black Knight the wolves that Kenshin help earlier are right behind him.  Their abilities as hunters have allowed them to sneak up on him without him even knowing.  "Now!"  Kenshin yells out.

                "What?"  The Black Knight is taken by surprise.  He loses his concentrates for a second and takes the knife away from Iris just enough for her to grab it with her free hand.  With the knife out of the way the mother wolf lunges at the Black Knight and sinks her teeth into his shoulder.  The Black Knight screams out in pain as he lets go of Iris and knocks the wolf off.

                "Now."  Kenshin thinks.  He disappear from sight.  He reappears a few feet infront of the Black Knight with a ball of ki in his right hand.  "Go to Hell!"  He yells out as he strikes the Black Knight's chest.

                "Shit..."  The Black Knight weakly says.  Kenshin lets the ki in his hand go.  It explodes out of the Knight's chest and through a small cliff.  The Black Knight falls to the ground dead.

                "Are you all right, Iris?"  Kenshin asks.

                "Thanks to you."  She says.  Gabriel and Sen quickly run up to the group.

                "Thank you."  Kenshin pets the wolves.  They say their goodbyes and run off.

                "Let's go."  Gabriel says.

                Two and a half days later their small group has finally come to the end of the mountains.  "Finally."  Iris says.

                "Our time in the mountains was used well."  Kenshin thinks.  "Each of us has increased in skill and power."  He looks at Iris.  "She can fly without any problems and can even use small ki attacks."  He looks at Gabriel.  "Even though he can't fly or use ki attacks, his speed has increased.  He can move faster than a mere human can see."  And last he turns to Sen.  "Sensai has become stronger as well.  I'm not sure if he knew how to use his ki before, but he is equal to Iris now.  As for me...I'm still not where I need to be."

                "Are you ready?"  Gabriel asks.  It was decided a day ago that Gabriel would head the group since he knew the area the best.  The group agrees.  They begin to head towards the town at the foot of the mountains.  But Kenshin stops.

                "What is it Kenshin?"  Iris asks.

                "Is it another Black Knight?"  Sen asks.

                Kenshin shakes his head.  "No."

                "Then what?"  Gabriel asks.

                Kenshin turns back to the mountains.  "Are you two coming?"  He yells back into the mountain.  No one really knows what he's doing.  Until two distinct and familiar barks are heard.  The two wolves run out of the mountains and down to the Kenshin.  He kneels down and greets them.

                "Where did they come from?"  Gabriel asks.

                "They've been following us.  I guess they want to come along."  Kenshin says.

                "But we can't keep them."  Sen says.  "We're going into a town.  The villagers won't like having wolves in there.  They might not let us in."

                "That's not a problem."  Iris says.  "We can just us a diguise spell and make them look like normal dogs."

                "And I'll see if there's anyway to communicate with them, a spell or something like that."  Kenshins says.

                "Fine.  There's no use argue with them."  Sen says.

                "So what are you going to call them?"  Gabriel asks.

                "Let's see."  Kenshin thinks for a second.  "The mother wolve I'll call...Kasin.  And the little pup, I'll call....Chibi."

                "Now that that's settled, let's go."  Gabriel says.

                Again the group heads off.  This time with two more members.  Their numbers and strength are increasing all the time, but will it be enough to stop Argo?  Only time will tell.