Damion and Alvar walked together in silence down the tunnel, the lantern lights making their shadows dance across the walls. Damion was mostly staring at the ground but occasionally he would glance up at Alvar's face, noting if his eyes were glazed or not. They seemed to flicker as they walked, changing back and forth and making Alvar look dazed.

Damion tried to think of everything he had read on Kitsune, recalling a chapter in a book he had read that had talked about a few diseases that Kitsune could get. He thought harder, closing his eyes and focusing on that page of that worn book. It was fuzzy but he felt like he remembered glazed eyes was a symptom of one of the more fatal diseases. He tried to remember the name of it but it had been a long time since he had read that book and he had been more focused on the chapter after the disease one so he had read it pretty quickly without putting much of it to memory.

"Would you care to tell me what's on your mind?" Damion was jarred out of his thoughts by Alvar's question and it took him a moment to answer.

"I'm just worried that you, well, that you're-" Damion started, not exactly sure what to say. He wanted to say he was worried that Alvar was sick but he was also worried how Alvar would react to it considering how strange he had been acting. He faintly remembered that some of the diseases made Kitsune aggressive or act completely opposite of their normal behavior. 

"That I'm sick?" Alvar asked, raising an eyebrow. Damion nodded, giving him a nervous grin. Alvar turned his gaze ahead once again, his eyes glazed then he blinked and the glazed look was gone again. "I can assure you that I'm not sick." 

"Then why have you been acting so odd? I know I haven't known you very long but I can tell from Miyuki that this is out of character for you." Damion was surprised when he heard a chuckle from Alvar but it was quickly quieted as he responded. 

"This odd behavior is because of the Tournament and my element."

"You're element? It's Void, right?" Damion asked, remembering the incredible performance Alvar had given in the fight against Gold.

"Yes; It has been quite some time since I have used my element and even longer since I have competed in the Tournament. I forgot how creating doubles of myself saps so much of my energy." Alvar murmured, lost in thought for a moment before he turned to Damion. "Have you read anything on the Void Element?" Damion thought about it for a moment, feeling like he had heard it mentioned in texts before but it had never been explained. 

"Not really." Damion answered finally and Alvar nodded.

"It's rarely mentioned so I'm not surprised. Most Kitsune that inherit Void are often times drove out of the village and forgotten. The reason is that nine out of ten Kitsune that inherit Void cannot control it and go mad, which is why they cannot be contained in the village. Those that are able to control it are respected for the burden they have to carry throughout their life, the possibility of going mad always hanging in the back of their mind." Alvar explained, finishing quietly as they entered the main cavern and the stalls started cropping up on either side of the path. 

"Wow; I had no idea." Damion whispered, feeling a newfound respect for Alvar. As they drew closer another question popped into his head as the now familiar smells of the festival foods began to fill the air. "Why haven't you told Miyuki?"

"Because she would worry about me and I am the only one that needs to keep it in check." He said simply, accepting a sample from a stall they passed that was selling a variety of pastries. He handed it over to Damion and he gratefully accepted it as the sweet aroma of almond wafted from the flaky bite-sized piece. 

"Thank you." Damion murmured as he swallowed the melt-in-your-mouth pastry. "Do you mind if I ask another question? A-a personal one?" He asked cautiously, thinking carefully about the question he was about to ask. He desperately wanted an answer.

"You may." Alvar rumbled as they neared the food court area.

"What happened between you and Kiki?" Alvar's face flickered and his eyes glazed over for a moment as Damion asked the question but his expression returned to neutral almost immediately, making Damion wonder if he had imagined the change in his expression. Alvar hesitated a moment before he answered.

"I was merely following orders," Alvar muttered under his breath, Damion just barely catching it before Alvar continued a little louder. "I have not done anything wrong in my perspective. When Kiki is ready she will tell you but I cannot tell you what happened, even if I wanted to."

 "Okay, thanks." Damion murmured, hundreds of questions buzzing in his mind but he kept silent. He was drawn out of his thoughts as the scents of dumplings and mooncakes filled the air. Damion was excited to head over to the buffet again when Alvar grabbed his arm and pulled him toward a different stall.

"But I was going to go get something to eat at the buffet." Damion protested, longing for the mouthwatering foods he'd been eating. His stomach rumbled it's agreement.

"That food is not good to eat if you want to have plenty of energy and strength for the tournament today. If you thought yesterday was hard today will be even more difficult." Alvar said as they entered the line in front of the stall. Damion peered around the Kitsune that was in front of them in hopes that he could see what kind of food they had but he could only see the back of an older looking Kitsune bending over something.

"So what kind of food do they have here?" Damion asked, watching as the elderly Kitsune turned around, brandishing what looked like a boxed lunch. He wished he could see the contents, or at least smell it.

"Only the best food." The Kitsune in front of them announced, whirling around to face them. The Kitsune's fiery blue eyes widened in surprise as he saw them. "Funny seeing you here Alvar and Kitsune I don't know."

"Hello Hiro." Alvar rumbled, then stepped to the side and gestured to Damion. "This is Damion. This is his first year competing in the tournament and I am his mentor." Damion tensed under Hiro’s searching gaze but relaxed as he turned back to Alvar.

 "What's the deal? I always wanted you to mentor me but instead you go and pick up some random Kitsune to help instead. So much for family." Hiro murmured, giving Alvar a hurt look.

"Wait, what do you mean by family?" Damion asked but it hit him just as Hiro opened his mouth.

"Alvar is my big brother. He's the best!" Hiro exclaimed, wrapping his arms around Alvar's neck. Alvar looked rather uncomfortable as he peeled Hiro off of himself, narrowing his eyes at his brother. Damion recalled reading Hiro’s full name and couldn't believe he hadn't made the connection sooner. He watched the two staring at each other, noting how different they were from each other.

"Have you checked the match-ups today?" Alvar asked Hiro, his voice gruff.

"Nah, I always get food first before I go to the competition room." Hiro replied with a grin. "You guys wanna order and join me?" Damion glanced at Alvar, knowing he should decide since it was his brother. Personally he didn't really want to sit by him after the way he had treated Kiki. Then again he did want to know more about him.

With a nod Alvar agreed, moving up to the counter to order. Damion smiled as he noticed Hiro fist pump behind Alvar's back and hurry over to a table where he set down his box and got ready to eat. Before Damion could tell him what he wanted Alvar deposited a box into his hands, holding his own box as he strode over to the table.

"What is this?" Damion asked as he came to the table and sat down beside Alvar.

"Mori's Bento Box. This is the breakfast version." Alvar replied simply. He clicked a small button on the front and it popped open, releasing a cloud of steam into the air. Hiro clicked his as well and a tiny cloud of steam floated out of his, releasing a sweet aroma into the air. Curious as to how his looked Damion clicked the button on his box, causing the top to swing open. He closed his eyes as a puff of steam whooshed out into his face.

"Whoa." Damion breathed as he opened his eyes and peered into the box. It was divided into five sections and in each section was a different dish. The one in the lower left corner had a little bowl that was filled a steamy liquid with little white cubes floating in it. The one in the center was filled with a scoop of steamed rice and the one next to it had a small piece of grilled salmon giving off the most delectable smell. Above the soup was a little salad with all sorts of greens and next to it in the last section was a odd pile of white rectangular objects that gave off a very strong smell.

"Tsukemono." Damion looked up from his breakfast and at Alvar who was eating his meal with a pair of chopsticks, expertly picking up chunks of rice and eating it.

"What did you say?"

"Tsukemono." Alvar repeated, pausing in his eating. "Those white things. They are Tsukemono or also known as Japanese pickles. I noticed you looking at them quite curiously."

"Oh." Damion murmured, looking down and picking up the chop sticks. He knew wasn't near as good as Alvar with them but he knew he could at least pick up his fish and salad with them.

"So, have you guys heard?" Hiro asked and Damion looked up from his last bite of fish. He noticed Alvar pause in his eating as well, gazing at Hiro.

"Hear what?" He asked and Damion could hear a hint of wariness in his voice. Hiro grinned and leaned in closer.

"The winner of the Tournament has already been decided." Damion felt his heart skip a beat and glanced over at Alvar. Alvar's face was as stony as ever, giving nothing away.

"The winner cannot be decided until the final match has been fought." Alvar replied, picking up his last bite of rice and eating it.

"Well the way this Kitsune has been fighting lots of competitors have been thinking of dropping out just so they don't have to face him." Hiro said quietly, looking this way and that. Damion watched Alvar quietly finish his food before he stood up, a gleam in his eye. 

"Let us go and see this fearsome opponent then shall we?" Damion blinked then quickly turned back to his food and stuffed his mouth with the rest of it, not wanting to let any of it go to waste.

"Alright! I believe I heard someone say his match was around noon." Hiro said excitedly, jumping to his feet. He rushed back to the bento box stall and dropped his box off before rushing back. "Ready to go?"

"Just as soon as we drop our boxes off. Go ahead and we'll meet you there." Alvar rumbled and Hiro nodded, taking off at a brisk pace toward the tournament ring. Alvar grabbed Damion's bento box and set it next to his at the stall. Damion got up, ready to follow him when Alvar leaned in with his eyes narrowed, his face right in front of Damion's. "Stay quiet and watch closely." Damion nodded and Alvar straightened up and turned around, heading out of the food court area.

I wonder what that was about. Damion thought as he followed Alvar, savoring the spicy flavor left over in his mouth from the Japanese pickles. He looked around the crowds that bustled around the stalls, wondering where Kiki and Miyuki were. It was getting late in the morning so he figured they would have to be up, or at least he hoped so.

Soon they were upon the crowds that were gathered around the Tournament Ring, their voices echoing in the cavern. Damion quickly caught up to Alvar as he pushed through the crowd to the competitor room. Damion pricked his fox ears as he heard excited murmurs from the Kitsune around him. 

"I think the veteran Kitsune is coming up next."

"I heard he beat his last opponent with a single move." 

"I'm so excited to see him fight!"

Damion tried to catch a name but the voices were dying down as the Announcer prepared to start the next round. Finally they reached the tiny elevator-like room, the sounds stopping as soon as they shut the door. Damion glanced up at Alvar who stared at the door to the Competitor room. Within a minute the door flew open and they were able to step out into the Competitor room. Stepping out of the room, Damion looked around, his eyes lighting up as he saw Miyuki by the boards with Kiki and Hiro.

"About time you guys got here." Kiki growled, her eyes narrowed. He watched as she took a step away from Hiro and glared at Alvar, her eyes full of fury. Damion decided it might be best to stay away from Kiki for now and walked over to Miyuki.

"Are you excited?" Miyuki asked, her eyes shining. Damion grinned at her, feeling her excitement infect him.

"Yeah, although if this Kitsune is as good they say he is we may not get the map." Damion pointed out but she waved his words away with a laugh.

"No one can beat Alvar so we'll be fine no matter what." Miyuki said, glancing over at Alvar. A sudden flash from the screen announced a winner then moved all the matches up one. Damion scanned the screens and found his name at the second to the last round.

"Hey looks like we're facing each other!" Hiro exclaimed, making Damion jump as he poked his head in beside him.

"Great." Damion murmured, sidling away from Hiro. He hadn't seen Hiro fight before but he knew he had to be skilled if he was in the second round. "I'm probably going to lose this round." 

"Hey! Alvar's against the to-be champion!" Damion glanced up to where Hiro was pointing, noting Alvar's match was next. He noticed Miyuki, Kiki, and Alvar had crowded around him for a peek at the so-called champion's name. Damion read it and was just going to ask Miyuki if she knew this Kitsune at all when Kiki murmured.

"Makoto Sentaro. Now there's a name I haven't seen in a long time."