Season Three – A New Treachery – Episode One
Ryo dashed after Whiteblaze, who carried the glowing ball in his mouth. He was still laughing from Yuli's little outburst when the white tiger had snatched it from him. Now, all the Ronins, plus Mia and a giggling Yuli, chased the tiger.
Suddenly, Whiteblaze stopped, nearly tripping Ryo. Kento was not so lucky, because he flipped over the crossways tiger, landing on his back. Cye laughed as he helped him stand.
"Hey, boy, what's wrong?" Ryo knelt beside the tiger, then realized that he no longer held the Jewel of Life in his mouth. Instead, a white haired man in a business suit held it in his hand, "Who are you?"
"I am disappointed that you do not recognize me, Ryo of the Wildfire," The man's voice, even without the mystical reverberation, was instantly acknowledged by everyone there.
"Ancient!" Mia cried, and Yuli ran to him and hugged him around the legs. The Ancient smiled and knelt, placing the now-complacent Jewel around his neck.
"Ancient? But—aren't you—" Ryo took a step back and scratched his head.
"When one dies in the Netherworld, anything is possible," He chuckled, his strangely hazel-green eyes glittering, "Speaking of such, I have another friend to reintroduce to you."
The Ancient motioned to the alleyway that stood just behind him, "Come, Warlord. We are all friends here."
A shadow moved, reluctantly at first, then a figure emerged from the darkness. He wore a varsity jacket with the number '06' and the letter 'A' on the chest. Under that, he donned a simple dark red t-shirt and jeans, with black boots.
"Anubis?" Mia gasped, her eyes widening. She stepped up to the man, who nodded.
"Yes, Mia, it is I," He smiled, "The Ancient awakened me after he, too, regained life. It appears that we are needed here, in the mortal realm."
"Anubis!" Now the former Warlord felt the brunt of Yuli's embrace. The little kid jumped up and nearly knocked him over, "You're alive!"
"I won't be for long if you keep crushing my ribs," The man's face turned slightly red with embarrassment as Yuli released him and the Ronins gathered around him and that Ancient.
"I can't believe it! This is so cool!" Kento exulted. Cye laughed and shook hands with the Ancient while Rowen amiably clapped Anubis on the back. Sage shook his former enemy's hand with a knowing smile on his face.
When Anubis seemed to be confused by his smile, the Ronin of Light tipped his head ever so slightly toward Mia, who was standing with her hands clasped. Sage leaned forward, "You're all she's talked about."
"Really?" Anubis looked towards her and smiled, slightly unsure as to what he should do, "Halo, I—what should I do? Remember, I'm a thousand years out of practice."
"Don't worry about it," Rowen stepped in, "Let her make the first move and just be yourself."
Anubis held his hand to the back of his head, embarrassed, and laughed. His voice did not seem so cruel or grating as it did while he fought in the war. His laugh was infectious, and it spread to the others.
"Can they come home with us, Mia? Please?" Yuli begged, "For dinner, at least? Please, Mia, please?"
"Well…" She hesitated, more for theatrical value than actual reluctance, "I suppose. Cye is cooking tonight anyway."
"Yeah!" Yuli jumped into the air and laughed, "Anubis! Ancient! I wanna show you all the cool stuff in her house! It's like a museum!"
Ryo laughed and saw the Ancient kneel by Whiteblaze, who seemed to nod sadly. Then the tiger jumped onto the older man, licking his face and roaring happily. A second later, Whiteblaze jumped off and roared at Anubis, who jumped.
The tiger waded through the Ronins and sidled up to the former Warlord, who knelt, "It is good to see you again, Whiteblaze. Or should I say, Urugasi?"
The tiger roared happily and licked his face. Anubis laughed and embraced the tiger around the neck.
"I don't get it, Ancient," Ryo rubbed the back of his head.
"Whiteblaze was known as Urugasi by his original owner, who lovingly raised him from a runt kitten," The Ancient responded, and Ryo noticed that Whiteblaze was nuzzling Anubis' shoulder and purring loudly.
"Anubis is—Whiteblaze's owner?" Ryo seemed taken aback.
"What?" Kento looked surprised, while Cye laughed. Sage and Rowen just exchanged looks.
"Yes, I found Whiteblaze when I was barely twelve years old," Anubis sighed, "I left him behind, at home, on the fateful day when Talpa ensnared me in his trap."
"The Whiteblaze that I fought with was Urugasi's father," The Ancient said sadly, "My Whiteblaze died many years ago, even though his family seems to live forever."
Ryo approached Anubis, "Well…I guess he's yours, then…"
Anubis stood and took his hand, "Wildfire, when he was mine, all he knew was poverty and sadness, and I did not even remember nor think of him when Talpa offered me his immortality. You have given him love, a good home…no, he is yours now, through the love that you have shown him."
Whiteblaze rubbed against Anubis one last time, then stood by Ryo. Anubis knelt to face him, "Yes, he belongs with you."
"Thanks, Anubis," Ryo grinned and petted Whiteblaze.
"Now, let's all head to my house for supper!" Mia exclaimed, and Yuli whooped in happiness. Kento laughed and picked him up on his shoulders.
"Oof, kid, have you been eating like me? You've gained pounds, little buddy," The Ronin of Hardrock laughed and the entire group began to walk back towards Mia's jeep.
"Anubis…" Mia walked beside him as the man shoved his hands into his jacket pockets, "I—"
"Oh, Meeeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyaaaaaaaa!" An annoying, high pitched voice came from over on the sidewalk, making Anubis grimace in pain, "Over here, girl!"
"It's Usagi," Mia groaned, "The rest of you go on. I'll be home in a little while. Start supper without me."
"Are you sure, Mia?" Ryo asked.
"With Usagi, she'll probably drag me out for pizza anyway," The young woman groaned and ran over to the group of women on the sidewalk. She was instantly ushered out of sight.
Dinner was a quiet event. The Ancient was naturally serene, but Anubis seemed subdued…unnaturally silent. Sage noticed this, and, about the same time, so did Cye. The Britan made the first move.
"Hey, Anubis, do you feel all right? You don't look too well," Cye said, laying his chopsticks down on the table. He had made the best chow mien and traditional Chinese food ever, for it was Kento's turn to have his favorite food on the table.
"No, I—" He stumbled over his words and held his hand to his forehead, "I feel strange somehow…"
Sage looked down at the food, "It couldn't be Cye's cooking…could it?"
That earned him a flying napkin in the face from Cye, who in turn shook his head, "I've made it before. There's nothing wrong with my food, unless Anubis isn't…"
"No, it is not the food. The food is delicious, the best I've had in over a thousand years," The former warlord lowered his hand, "I just have a headache…"
Now the Ancient broke in, his voice tentative, "I feared that something like this would happen. Do you still have Mia's grandfather's files?"
"Yeah, they're upstairs, in her study," Ryo stood from the table.
"Good. I'm sorry to cut dinner short, but if this is what I fear, Anubis may have a great problem," In unison, all who sat at the table, including Yuli, stood. Ryo led the Anicent and the others up the stairs to Mia's study.
Anubis gazed at the suits of armor and weapons that stood in the room while Ryo booted up the computer, then handed it over to the Ancient, whose fingers flew as if he were an expert.
Rowen stood by Anubis, "You wanna sit down, Anubis? You don't look the best."
"I—" Suddenly his eyes widened and he reached out to touch a sword on the wall. It resembled a lengthy katana with a guard over the hilt and handle. Symbols engraved in the blade shone when Anubis touched it.
"What…?" Rowen took a step back.
"This sword…it belonged to Cale, before…"Anubis withdrew his hand, and the symbol's fire faded, "Before Talpa seduced him. There was a time when all was peaceful in the Dynasty, when Talpa still gathered power. We Warlords shared our stories, and Cale told us of the final battle, when his sword was taken from him by the same enemy who gave him his scar."
"Whoa," Cye exclaimed, to the background of typing.
"That is why he hated me so much, because of the scar I gave him," Anubis sighed, "They all hated me. Talpa took me first, then used me and my armor to seduce the others, offering them revenge upon me 'when' he achieved his goal with their help."
"So he started using you right from the beginning," Sage shook his head, "What a mess. He really played you all like a deck of cards."
Anubis only nodded, then raised his hand to his head again when a throbbing pain began again. The computer beeped, and all eyes went to the Ancient, who cast his eyes down, as if ashamed.
"I should have seen this coming, Anubis. I apologize now for bringing you into this battle," The Ancient sighed, "The Netherspirits that remain in the Netherworld must have stolen Anubis' original body from the wreckage of the funeral tower where Talpa imprisoned him."
"What?" Anubis spun to face him.
"How can that be?" Rowen demanded, "Didn't Kayura and the others stop them?"
"I do not know," The Ancient admitted, "We must go and discover why this treachery has been allowed to occur."
"The Ronin Warriors are back in business!" Kento whooped.
