Disclaimer: I don't own them. I just like to write about them.

Chapter One

It Begins…

The moon was slowly rising above the cozy mansion tucked away in the hills. A slight breeze blew the boughs of the trees surrounding the house, but the occupants inside didn't pay the creaking branches any mind. They were in the midst of a serious poker match. The five Ronins and Mia were enjoying their game and the usual, boisterous chitchat between hands.

"Argh! I can't seem to win with you guys!" Cye exclaimed as he threw his cards down on the table.

Kento laughed as he gathered the large amount of blue and red chips, "Don't blame me. It's all about the dealer."

Mia laughed as she replaced the boys' cards into the deck, "Please. You're a hustler and you know it."

"No, his isn't." Rowen said as he tipped his chair back dangerously on their back legs, "He has too many family members to practice with."

Sage eyed the groaning chair Rowen was leaning precariously too far back, "You're going to end up breaking that thing if you don't watch it."

Rowen scoffed as he put his hands behind his head and leaned even further back, much to the annoyance of his blonde friend, "Whatever, Mom."

Cye raised his eyebrows at him as he swayed in his chair, "I think he's right, Ro."

"Man, will you all lay-"

A crackling of wood broke off his sentence. A wide-eyed Rowen fell back into the floor with a non-too-graceful 'thump', legs and arms flailing.

All of the Ronins jumped up, save a stunned Mia and smirking Sage.

"Told you so." Sage mumbled under his breath.

Everyone tried to contain their giggles while Rowen lay on the floor, astonished. Ryo walked around the table and offered him a hand up.

"Are you okay?" Ryo asked, working hard not to grin.

"Sure. I've just been tossed to the floor by a possessed chair. Of course I'm NOT alright!!"

With that, Kento roared with laughter, which quickly spread to all of them. Rowen gave them all an evil eye as he sat up, grabbing his lower back in dramatic fashion. Ryo bent down and pulled him up, wiping the tears from his eyes as he did.

"Claim it, somebody! That was too good to let it go!"

Rowen stood amidst the wreckage of his former seat, glaring at each of his teammates. Mia ducked her head down to avoid his awful stare.

"No really, speak up! I want to know whom I can thank for my bruised ass in the morning!"

Sage shook his head, not looking in the archers' direction, "Quit being so dramatic, Rowen. You prank us all the time."

Rowen's mouth dropped open, and he grabbed at his chest, "Et tu, Sage?"

"Well, I know that my chairs are old," Mia said as she raised her head, "but they aren't that old. Did someone really do that?"

Ryo bent over and grabbed a splintered chair leg from the floor. He put it in the middle of the table, pointing to a rather large chunk missing from the top. Everyone stood and looked at it, and also at each other.

"Someone had to saw a piece off of it."

"Alright guys," Mia said as she stood back from her chair, "tomorrow is April Fool's Day. Let's call a truce for one day so that we can all relax."

The five Ronins looked from one to the other, shrugging and nodding their heads.

"We prank each other enough. I don't think that one day off would be bad. What do you guys think?" Ryo asked the group.

Cye shrugged, "Fine with me. I was never any good at pranks anyway."

"Seeing as how I've already suffered from one, I'm afraid to see how violent you assholes would be." Rowen said with a smirk.

"Geez, Ro, stop acting like such a girl!"

"Then it's settled!" Mia exclaimed before Rowen could spit acid at his attacker.

The five exchanged a handshake, sealing the April Fool's truce. Rowen eyed each one suspiciously, trying to gain a clue on who could have given him the best prank that he'd ever received.

They had all decided to settle in and watch some funny movies to settle their April Fool's bug. As they finished their first movie, Mia stood up from her spot on the sofa and stretched. Each one looked up at her and hugged her goodnight.

"Remember, boys." Mia reminded them as she headed up the stairs to her room, "We called a truce, so no sneaking around tonight, understand?"

They all nodded and grunted responses, all wishing her goodnight as she trounced off to bed. As the night wore on, they all decided to turn in together, so that no one would feel the itch to pull a prank in the middle of the night. Each went to bed, resting peacefully, and knew that they wouldn't have to worry about what they'd find in the morning…

Or would they?