"Kuro!" Hikari called for her hawk, next thing she knew he came swooping downward from the sky and landing in front of her on a dead tree limb. "There you are boy." She smiled and ruffled his breast feathers. "Your so cute, I can't believe Taichi doesn't like you." She said in a tiny voice.

"Aye there are differences." Taichi said coming up from behind her, she turned quickly to see her brother coming toward her she sighed. "Taichi." she began but her stopped her putting his hand up. "Yes I will learn to accept him, but it doesn't make it any easier." He replied.

"Stop being hard on the girl Taichi." Jyou said coming next with Sora and Koushiro. "I'm not being hard." He protested. "We have other things more troublesome then a pet bird that your sister wishes to keep." Sora told him.

"Right and on that matter we should head to the village and find out what's happening on this island. It appears that people are scared of a monster. And is said to be one with a hooves of a goat and to have one large eye." Koushiro told him Taichi shook his head. "I understand Koushiro, that's what we talked about with the king. And we shall resume to the village over there now." Taichi pointed.

The five walked along the path heading up to the village, which was situated next to the forest and the open plain over looking the ocean. The winds flew gracefully, causing the trees and long felid grass to sway back and forth.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Once arriving at the village, many of the villagers were happily going on there own business to notice the new comers, but another did he walked over to them. "Greetings you must be the help the king promised us." The gentleman said to them with eagerness in his voice.

"Aye that is us." Taichi said. "Great come with me to my home and we shall discuss things more over lunch." He gestured them to house, made from mud and wood (an Adobe)

Inside….

"My name is Godar, I'm the village leader." He said once they were all seated, a woman came into the room. "You must be the help, the king has promised us. I'm Nala." She explained appreciably.

"Well let me introduce myself, I'm Taichi." he started then pointed to each of his crewmates. "This is Sora, Koushiro, Jyou and my sister Hikari." Hikari cleared her throat Taichi rolled his eyes "And the hawk, is Kuro." He trailed off.

"Nice to meet all of you…shall we get to discussing the town's problem?" Godar asked them. "Sure by all means." Jyou said.

Once they were all seated Godar began to explain what was happening to the village. "Every week this monster will come, we call him the Cyclops because of his one eye, he comes and eats all of our live stock and vegetables that we so hard produce to feed this town. And when we don't have anything he will even eat us." He explained.

"Whoa, that thing is barbaric." Sora replied disgusted. "You see that's why we need the help for months we've begged the king to send us help he hasn't listened till now." He replied. "Very good we will think of a plan…but we need the help of the villagers as well." Taichi said to them.

"But what are we going to do to trap a giant monster as they say he is?" Sora questioned Taichi; he shrugged "We'll make a net and some way throw it over the Cyclops." He suggested. "Taichi for crying out loud your making it up." Sora cried at him "Okay clam down." Jyou told the two, he looked at the two then to Godar and Nala.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Fellow villagers, I have gathered a town meeting because I would like to introduce the help our great King has brought us." Godar replied loudly, there were applause and cheers.

"This is Taichi and his crew, he was specially recommended by the king his self." Godar clapped triggering a response by the crowd who also applauded. "Now I need help from all of you if we intend to defeat the monster that threatens your village. Then we will need to cooperation and work together as a team." Taichi declared.

"But what can we do?" one villager asked "We are going to make two look out towers at the front of the town. And a huge net get materials we to make this net guys. Lets get to work." Taichi replied.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

As the villagers worked hard gathering wood and other items, Kuro was flying around the Island being the lookout just in case the monster wanted to come for an visit to the village.

Koushiro came up to Taichi quickly he was holding a large hallow tube and three sticks. "Taichi look at this." He replied Taichi observed him for a moment. "What is that going to do?" he asked.

"Watch." He replied he took out some of the exploding powder and put it into the tube then put a rock into it Taichi was confused. "Okay now stand back." He replied he pushed Taichi back with him. Then lighted the string and ran over to where Taichi was.

There was a huge bang then the rock went soaring through the air and into the forest. "Holy crap!" Taichi cried he looked at Koushiro. "This is amazing we can use this against the giant." He replied.

"I knew you would like it." He replied. "I think it's excellent. Set it up and get it ready to be fired in an instant." He said to him. "Will do." Koushiro told him and began to set up his newly created invention.

Jyou was chopping some wood Taichi came over to check up on him and the other two men that were helping him. "How's it going?" he questioned. "Fairly well Taichi." Jyou said he wiped his brow. "We just need a few more piece before we can raise the towers." Taichi nodded "All right as long as it's going to be ready soon then that's fine. I'll check up on the girls." He replied and walked off to where Sora and Hikari where meshing together a net with the women of the village it was quite well done so far.

"Hikari I'm sorry about Kuro, I guess he is very useful." He told her. "Now you agree. Why?" she questioned. "Because I admit I was wrong." He replied. "Oh you do…Hear that Sora he admits he was wrong about Kuro." Taichi closed his eyes.

"He did, now Taichi what could be wrong with you?" Sora questioned with a smile, he laughed "Okay I get it…don't drag in on any longer." He answered. "Why not?" Sora asked. "Because…. we have other things to worry about." Taichi whispered he went closer to her. "Right?" Sora froze feeling his breath on her skin.

Hikari growled. "Taichi you got something to do?" she asked her brother as he was still near Sora. "Yeah I'll see you two later." He got up left Sora and Hikari there.

"Sora…you froze what was that?" she asked. "Nothing." She replied quickly. "Come on if you'd admit that you like him then everything will be a better place…instead of just freezing to one spot." She said plainly.

"Not again I thought you were on my side." She complained. "I am. Just that when you act like that and won't admit that you like my brother it just makes me confused." She said as she stitched together the netting.

"Well for the note, I don't like him." she said. "You did say you had feeling for him did you not? I remember it perfectly clear." Hikari replied.

Sora got up and left. "Sora come on! I'm kidding." Hikari called to her, she watched as Sora walked through the path of houses then when into the woods. "Sora!" Hikari called she sighed and followed her half way but stopped, deciding it would be best to let her be.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

By the end of the day all the hard working had paid off. "This is good." Taichi replied he observed everything that was to be ready for the Cyclops when he comes.

Hikari bit her bottom lip worried about Sora, who hadn't came back from since this afternoon when she walked away like that. 'Okay Taichi's going to flip…Sora where are you?' she thought looking around the place her female friend had disappeared.

Taichi frowned, he looked over at Jyou and Koushiro "Guys did you see Sora?" he asked them, the two shook there head no. "Why do you ask?" Koushiro questioned "Because I haven't seen her since I last talked to her." He replied.

"Don't worry Taichi I'm fine…just needed to cool down and think things threw." Sora's voice replied he turned around. "Okay well next time let everyone know that your gone." He said to her she only nodded the walked up to Hikari who was holding Kuro, he rested on her arm which she wore a protective glove.

"Can I have a word with you?" Sora questioned, Hikari nodded "Okay sure." The two girls left to have a talk somewhere away from the guys.

"Sora…okay I'm sorry for the comments, I don't mean to push." Hikari explained as they walked. "You know what, don't apologize, I understand why your doing the things you do, like pushing me toward him. But frankly Hikari I'm not in love with him." she explained.

"Okay I see it was just a waste of time then." Hikari whispered annoyed, Kuro squawked in agreement. "Guys really I can't believe you think it meant something…that kiss was nothing, Hikari you know that don't you?" Sora begged. "It sure didn't look like it meant nothing, after all it was a good twenty seconds long." She said.

"IT'S COMING!!" Hikari and Sora turned around to where the two look out towers were, they ran back to where Taichi and the others were. "That's huge!" Koushiro cried they saw the monster approaching the village it was still about thirty feet away it, the ground shook as it walked closer toward them.

"Holy bloody hell." Jyou whispered his eyes wide as he watched the monster coming closer to them. "God! That's it, that's the Cyclops?" Sora cried out. "Yup that's him. EVERYONE TAKE YOUR POSITIONS." Taichi shouted out loud. Kuro flew off of Hikari's hand and into the air soaring high about the monster he circled it. "KURO!" Hikari shouted at her bird he didn't listen and continued to circle the monster's head.

The Cyclops roared in confusion and anger he tired to swat Kuro out of the way as the bird made dive bombs at his head, he dodged every move moving swiftly. "Hikari don't worry Kuro can handle himself "Get your magic ready." Sora told her, Hikari nodding did as she was told.

The monster was now 10 feet closer, he looked ugly, he had the body of a human, his one eye stood out well, and his teeth were sharp as canine's teeth would be. Hair covered his body and his feet were hooves.

As the Cyclops approached closer and closer to them Taichi was holding down the signals of when to strike him. There were archers and spear throws on the ground getting set to let the monster have it for taking the lives of fellow villagers. Jyou was in charge of net he and another four villagers where going to mange that part. Koushiro ready his power canon. Kuro came flying back to where Hikari was and sat on top of the house and watched. "NOW!" Taichi cried.

The archers aimed at the Cyclops one eye but he knocked the arrows that came toward him out of the way with ease, the spears didn't penetrate the monsters skin at all. "Jyou the net!" Taichi called to them. They gave Taichi the thumb up. The net was launched right over the monster while two villagers held down the other line, while Jyou doing the same at the other side with another villager.

Koushiro lighted his canon and quickly got out of the way, the blast started the Cyclops making him angrier when the rock hit him.

The Cyclops thrashed his hands wildly about trying to swat them away he roared in frustration and with one motion he had thrown the net they had put on him to the ground.

"Damn it!" Taichi cried Hikari with all her might tried to conjure a strong fireball, she ran her hand over top of it faster and faster till it grew. Then launched it at him, it just defected off the monster he came closer to the village. Many of the villagers tried desperately to throw spears at the Cyclops but nothing seemed to work.

"The thing didn't flinch, Hikari you have to know another attack other then the fireball one." Sora said as she ran up to her. "I don't know…. here I got it." She pushed Sora out of the way then rolled up her sleeves. "Take this!" She threw her arms out, and from the fingertips came lighting bolts it hit the giant but it hadn't affected him either.

Taichi frowned immensely he didn't know what to do, plan A had failed and Hikari's magic didn't work on the Cyclops either, Taichi picked up a rock then threw it at the monster. "HEY YOU BIG GOAT! COME ON AND CHASE ME!" he shouted at it, the Cyclops turned to looked down at Taichi, Taichi's eyes widen 'Okay that was a bad idea' he thought. He then ran away from the village.

The Cyclops began to follow Taichi and soon after it began to run after him, Taichi looked back at the Cyclops that was behind him. 'DAMN! …. Okay the bog I got to go down there.' Taichi ran as fast as he could.

"TAICHI!! YOU IDOIT!" Sora cried she ran after the Cyclops and Taichi. "Sora! Wait!" Jyou shouted at her. "Come on we got to stop her Taichi always gets himself in that kind of danger." Hikari replied.

The three ran after Sora, Kuro followed in the sky, he flew along Sora's side. "Sora turn back." Sora stopped in her place she looked at the hawk strangely Hikari, Jyou and Koushiro came up behind her, then Kuro landed on Hikari's gloved arm. "What is it?" Koushiro questioned her.

"Kuro, talked to me." She whispered in shock.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Taichi was getting tired but despite that he continued to run the Cyclops was gaining on him. Ahead of him he saw the bogs of quick sand. He quickly hopped onto dry mounds of dirt that lead to the mid of the quick sand lake…he maneuvered himself so he was facing the Cyclops who stopped at the edge of the bog, he looked at Taichi.

"Come on big boy…" he replied standing there making a moition with his hand telling him to come after him. The Cyclops made no hesitation and placed one foot into the bog he walked to about half way until suddenly began sinking into the quick sand.

Taichi watched as the monster sank, sinking even faster as he tried to get out of the bog , but with out success the Cyclops was up to his neck then it swallowed the giant whole, his hand stuck out slowly descending further into the quick sand.

Taichi sighed a breath of relief he did it defeated the Cyclops. He quickly hoped back to the solid ground and rushed back to the village he stopped once he made it over the hill he had just climbed he saw Sora, Koushiro, Jyou and Hikari with Kuro.

"Guys I killed it." He replied breathing heavily Sora shook her head then but the thought that Kuro had talked to her away for a moment and hugged Taichi "You scared us." She whispered holding on to him. Taichi just smiled and hugged her back "I scare myself too some times…but it wasn't nothing I couldn't handle." He replied. Sora broke from the hug then looked at Kuro.

"What's going on?" Taichi questioned. "He talked to me." Sora replied. "What?" Taichi questioned. "Yeah that's what Sora said." Jyou told him he looked at the bird himself. "Well maybe there is something about him that is very different." Hikari replied.

"Like what he's just a bird? How could he talk?" Taichi questioned confused. "Unless this isn't his true form." She said to her brother, Koushiro frowned he stared at her shaking his head. "That's impossible." He began.

Kuro squawked he flapped his wings he looked like he was trying to tell them something Hikari got him to quiet it down. "Kuro…what is it?" Hikari asked she stared into his eyes. She began to get wobbly Kuro flew off of her arm before Hikari collapsed Sora caught her before she fell.

"Hikari! Can you hear me?" Taichi questioned, Jyou put a hand on his shoulder. "Taichi, let Koushiro looked at her for a second." He said Taichi reluctantly stood aside to letting Koushiro looked at her. "Well what could have happened?" Sora asked Koushiro as he checked Hikari closely.

"She's fine she's just fainted I guess." He replied after he said that she began to come too. "Kuro…where is he?" she asked groggily. "He's there Hikari if he did anything to you I swear I'll make barbeque chicken out of him." Taichi said angrily. "NO! You won't harm him Taichi, he didn't do anything to you…or me." Hikari sat up

"What happened Hikari?" Sora questioned her. "I don't know…. it's like something blocked his memory from me and put some kind of spell to lock it there, I tried with all my strength to open it but I couldn't it was too strong." She replied.

"Block his memory?" Taichi questioned. "Yes…. Something happened to him, before and who ever did it to him made it impossible for him to tell anyone about how to save him, how he got to being there and who did it to him." she said explained quaintly.

"Well come on we got to tell the news to the villagers." Jyou replied. "We can't sit here and solve a mystery that can't be solved at the moment." he further explained himself.

"Right." Taichi agreed the five all headed back to the village. "Villagers! I the Cyclops has been Slain!" he shouted there was celebrating and clapping from the Villagers they finally have they're freedom they needed and wanted for so long.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Godar shook hands with the entire crew he ruffled Kuro's feathers gently. "Thank you so much for your help Taichi, we can go on with life as it used to be before the Cyclops appeared on this island. We well truly be within your dept." he replied to him.

"It wasn't a problem that couldn't be fix by us." Taichi told him. "Give the king our deeps sincere thank you."

"We will when we next see that King. I hope you have a prosperous life with many happiness." Taichi said to him, they bowed and the crew began the journey back to the Night n Gale.

To Be Continued…

Preview…..

Is Kuro a bird or is he another form…. the crew sets up to find out the mystery about Kuro and who he really is. Everything will come to a surprising conclusion next chapter of The Night n Gale.