Unspoken: Failed Whispers; Enduring Scars
Summary: Time changes, and so can people. But there is one thing that never changes: the past and the lasting impact that past has had. Even though they thought they moved on, that they were past the ordeals, the scars left behind by the constant battles seem to be open wounds now. Sometimes, the past just doesn't want to let go.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Ronin, the Warlords, or anything that is officially affiliated with them.
A/N: This story is unlike anything I have ever written, so you're not going to find TGOL, TSW, or WAS here. This is based off of the fanfic 'Unspoken' which is based off a roleplay Sifirela and I started not long ago. I've seen comments that ask about the psychological issues the Ronin Warriors would go through after fighting like they have. The rp was meant to explore those issues, as well as the darker ones…Mainly because I've seen people complain that the 'darker ones' would never happen. I find, to quote one of my characters, that is a load of bull. To remain on topic, I wanted to explore it in roleplay because I doubted I'd get the chance to write a fic exploring the issues. Unfortunately, Sifirela writing Unspoken, has started a chain reaction of events largely affecting my creativity thus shoving me into writing the fanfic I never thought I'd write. …Just what I needed.
Rated: M, for dark/mature themes. And granted teenagers deal with one certain theme on a day-to-day basis, but I'm rating it M regardless. And also because there's going to be language…Like I said, this is not like the stuff I normally write.
Warning: The official dates for events that occurred in the series, OVAS, and Cassette Books are not applicable to this story. That is why there will be certain things in the story that come across as inappropriate for the official time-line. I'm not following it in this story.
Chapter One
I guess…Part of me always wondered what life would be like after the battles, when the rest of me was simply trying to survive those battles. It was something that was on all of our minds, I'm sure. Fighting just to survive was difficult, more than any normal person will understand…But we were fighting for more than just that of our own lives, we were fighting for everyone's. As fourteen-year-olds we really could not wrap our heads around what was really going on…Looking back on it as adults, I can see, I'm sure the others can, just how lucky we were to make it out alive.
…But just because we made it out alive, doesn't mean the fighting didn't change us. It did, in many ways, and not all of them so wondrous. Any injuries we had from those fights are nothing more than barely visible scars now…Yet, I can point out each one I have and where I got it from. And sometimes…Sometimes, I fear that my mental wounds never healed properly…And if they didn't, what does that mean for the others?
If one thing did not change with the passage of time, it was Tokyo. Now more than ever the city seemed to be abuzz with life. Life, of course, referring mainly to the fact so much of the city was heavily trafficked.
Yet, there were certain sections of Tokyo that remained off the beaten path, as it were. These particular spots were blessedly free of the hordes that normally walked down the sidewalks, though they still acquired plenty of people throughout the day.
In this section, there were a number of specialty shops…The buildings looking relatively new, except for one. It was a brick, but quite faded from years of exposure to the sun, and there were certain spots the brick was crack. It was not in anyway structurally unsound; it simply looked to be rather out of place.
The sign over the top of the building, was hand-painted and seemed to be as worn as the building itself. It read that the store was home to medicinal herbs, more or less, it was a homeopathic place. The small sign on the door, said that the store was indeed open.
As one entered the shop, they would find shelves of herbs in the front, and a singular counter towards the back of the store where the register sat. Behind that was a door which obviously led to the store room. The store room itself was lined with even more shelves, but poorly lit in comparison to the actual shop…So much so it was difficult to see the occupant clearly.
A man with what had to be auburn hair held a clipboard in his hand as he looked over the herbs stored in this room. A small frown framed his lips as he took the pen attached to the clipboard, and started to make notes. A few things were running low, and would have to be re-ordered…Everything else seemed to be in perfect condition.
His task was now complete, so he walked back to the front of the shop pausing as he went from the dimly lit room to the brightly lit one. It took his sea-green eyes several minutes to focus, but once they had he walked over to the counter opened the drawer, and placed the clipboard in it before closing the drawer and locking it shut.
Business tended to be slow on these days, but it didn't really matter to him. Cye Mouri did not have anywhere else to go, or someplace important to be. The shop was in what he considered to be a nice section of town, and even though she could be an eccentric old bird, his mother's friend was really a nice caring woman. It was just she was very heavy on the eccentric part.
The woman was slightly older than his mother, and most of her children, and grandchildren, had moved to other parts of the country leaving her very much alone…None of them had wanted to run the homeopathic business their parents had started.
So, Cye was helping the poor old woman out. Really, she didn't act like she needed help she had plenty of spunk for her age. But managing this store was difficult for just one person, and his mother had asked him if he could help her dearest friend out.
The Ronin of Torrent had, of course, done the task without complaint, and had been doing working here for the past seven months. Having lost his father, he cherished the only living parent he had left and did whatever she asked of him…And seeing as how she was sick…
Cye winced a moment, trying not to allow his mind to focus on that part, but it did him no good. Within the past two years his mother's frail health had taken a turn for the worst. Whereas at one point she had been recovering, with each day that passed the worse she became. It hurt him, and Sayoko, to see their mother in such a state, but they did what they could to make her feel comfortable.
The door opened and the young man shook his head free of the thoughts, and smiled at the person who had entered, "Ah, Grandma, I thought you were going to stay home today?"
'Grandma' was the only name Mrs. Mouri's friend would permit herself to be called, and for the life of him Torrent's bearer could never recall hearing the old woman's last name before. It wasn't even on any of the store documents; everyone called her Grandma, she insisted on it.
"Just wanted to see how my store and employee were doing," she said by way of answering, her dark brown eyes skimming the shelves as if looking for anything out of place. Her once black hair, was now completely white, and she couldn't have been more than 4'9." But what she lacked in stature she made up for in personality, as in, she was more than capable of defending herself, if push came to shove.
Cye actually pitied those that tried to shoplift, simply because of how viscous the little woman could be. He doubted even Sekhmet would be able to avoid being crushed at her hands. Now there was a thought that could bring a smile to his face, the little old lady beating the Warlord of Venom to death with her all powerful broomstick.
"How many customers have we had so far?"
Cye thought it over for a brief moment, "Ten. They were sad to hear that you would be closing at the end of this month."
Grandma stretched, cracked her back, "Well, I can't stay in this business forever. Ever since Yoshi died, it just hasn't been the same. But I've had a good long run, he's been gone for five years. Now's more than a good time for me to retire. I have grandchildren to fuss over after all."
'More like torture,' the Ronin of Torrent dryly thought to himself, and then gave a nod to her words. "Of course."
She paused and studied him a moment, a slight frown on her face, "You look tired. Go home. I'm giving you the rest of the day off."
"B-but…" Cye blinked in surprise, and stopped when she waved him off.
"I mean it you, young whippersnapper, get your butt home. You look ready to fall over, find your bed roll, before you find the floor," she walked behind him and pushed him out onto the main floor, shoving him towards the door.
The Ronin of Torrent shook his head and sighed in defeat, "Okay, okay I'll go home! I can walk Grandma, honest."
"Good that's more like it," the old woman stopped pushing him, and gave a delighted smile. "You say hi for me. See you tomorrow, Cye."
"Tomorrow, then," Cye gave a bow of his head, before grabbing his jacket, and walking out of the store.
Once out on the sidewalk and past the store he paused and stretched, his muscles having tightened up after standing stationary for so long. Really, he felt a little tired, but surely it was nothing more than the result of a night of interrupted sleep…For the third night in a row.
All he needed, was one night of complete rest and he would be perfectly fine. The cause of his interrupted sleep? Well, he had an apartment in Tokyo once more, perhaps two blocks away from the one he had when he was in highschool, and he did not occupy said apartment alone.
Unfortunately, Yuki was the type to sleep all day and be up all night. She could be a real mischief maker and seemed to care little about how much sleep he got. It seemed her preferred time to really raise the roof was around three to four in the morning.
Cye had been unable to convince her that he needed more sleep than what she was permitting him to get. But in spite of that, he enjoyed her company a great deal and it kept him from being alone.
The Ronin of Torrent stopped in a small grocery store and got something he could make for the two of them for lunch. Yuki happened to be an exceedingly light sleeper, and he knew she'd wake up. In the end he picked up a little bit of eel, which he knew happened to be her favorite. He then continued his walk home.
Cye used the stairs to climb to his third floor apartment, not feeling like taking the elevator. Once outside his door, he reached into his pocket and produced his keys. He then stuck the apartment key into the lock, turned it, and then opened the door walking inside and shutting it behind him.
He placed the bag on the counter, having left his shoes by the door. The Ronin of Torrent then turned his head, having heard movement. As he had suspected, Yuki was now awake.
The man smiled, querying, "How's my girl? I brought you lunch."
Bright blue eyes looked up at him, before Yuki squinted them and let out a happy mewl, the Siamese cat immediately started purring when Cye picked her up and stroked her.
"Good to hear it, I got you eel," he chuckled when she gave a 'brrd' in response; he ran one more hand through her silky fur and then let her down. The cat was content to wind around his ankles as he went about getting the food ready.
She contently ate it once he gave it to her, and then rubbed in to him, showing him more affection most likely the cat's way of saying 'thank-you for the meal.'
Cye made himself some soup, and then walked with it into the living room. His apartment was sparsely decorated, but that was because he felt little need to collect things just so they could gather more dust. A few photographs hung in frames on the walls, several adorned a table…And the one end table he walked past held a photograph that served as a reminder.
A reminder that he had been a Ronin Warrior, that he had not been alone for those trials…For some reason, Torrent's bearer paused and looked at the picture for a moment.
Whatever happened to those five teenagers in subarmor? What had happened to fighting until their very last breath, spilling their blood, their tears…Practically destroying themselves in order to save all humanity?
Had it really been worth it? All they had done, all they had suffered, in the end had it really made that much of a difference? Every now and then, Cye wondered if it was all pointless, other times he knew it had been worth it. That they had done the right thing, but sometimes, late at night when he couldn't sleep, he worried about the costs to them…Costs he was certain they would never be able to understand, and knew the others would not share.
Talpa's defeat had occurred some ten years ago, Suzunagi's spirit was freed and laid to rest six years ago. Cye was twenty-five-years old now, and those that weren't there yet, would be soon enough. His past of fighting demons, sorcerers, and in battles no one could ever accurately comprehend was over, but still on his mind.
Suzunagi had left them the new armors, there had been another fight to come, and they had all accepted that. But, time had passed and with each passing month, then years, they had started to move on with their lives. The Ronin Warriors, the team that had battled all odds and somehow won against them…Had fallen apart.
They were no longer readily in contact with one another. Cye had talked to Kento last, face-to-face, about two months ago. Since then they'd been able to speak over the phone only a handful of times.
The Faun Family Restaurant was now completely in the eldest Faun children's hands (Kento, Rinfi, and Yun) as their parents had retired some four months ago. Two months ago the pair had gone on a much needed vacation, somewhat of another honeymoon. Thus, Kento had been left in charge of the care of his siblings who were not old enough to be out of the house yet.
In addition to all of that, the Ronin of Hardrock still had his job at a highschool as a school counselor. Yes, that had all surprised them when the Warrior of Strength went to school specifically to be a counselor. Really, it shouldn't have come as such a surprise, as Kento had always been very good with people. Coming from such a large family, and having been helping in the family business, since he was old enough to do so, had helped hone his people skills.
There was a downside to it though, one Cye was well aware of just by his talks with Hardrock's bearer over the phone. Kento was under a great deal of stress, had been for the last year. If anyone needed a vacation, Torrent's bearer reasoned, it was the poor Ronin of Hardrock.
Rowen? Cye had not heard from the archer since the man moved to the United States some four years ago. The Ronin of Strata had graduated from highschool at the same time as Torrent's bearer, meaning he'd gotten out a year ahead of the other three.
Also like Cye, the Strata Ronin had already been taking college courses while still in highschool. So by the time he was out of college, several business firms were chomping on the bit to have the reputable genius working for them. In the end, Rowen had gotten a job in Research and Development for a firm that operated in both Japan and America.
He'd left for the United States, maybe a month after a huge blow-up between him and the swordsman of Halo. What it had been about, the Ronin of Trust had no clue, he only knew that it had occurred. The only reason he knew it had happened, was due to Ryo.
Out of all the other Ronin, Ryo was the only one Cye was in constant contact with. Simply because, Wildfire's bearer had figured out Cye had moved back to Tokyo and was working in a section of town he frequently passed. Thus, Torrent normally saw Ryo on a weekly basis, and at times at least once a day.
The Ronin of Wildfire had been a soccer star in highschool, and they had all expected him to go on with that as a career. Instead, he was recruited by a newspaper. He worked that job while going to college and getting his degree in journalism.
He had started out a simple reporter, but a year or so ago he had been promoted, and was now the managing editor of the sports section. Quite the feather in his cap, as Cye had told him, though Ryo simply shrugged off the praise. A job was a job to him.
As for the Ronin of Halo? Here, Cye had to walk onward and sit down in the chair next to the table. Sage…Hadn't exactly had it easy. While they were still in highschool, it had been revealed to them that he was engaged to be married; though the marriage was not to occur until he was older…Out of highschool and ready to take over the clan.
Now, Cye had met the bride-to-be on several occasions, and she had seemed nice enough…But all he knew was that she had eloped with another man not long before the wedding date, and Sage had ended up becoming disowned by his clan.
Of course, Sage had given them a choice…Treat him like he belonged, or disown him officially as they'd been doing it unofficially all of his life. Cye still supported the man's decision to stand up to the elders like that, but getting a hold of the blond was impossible these days.
Mainly because…The Ronin of Torrent eyed the book lying on the table, the cover title was hard to read from the angle he sat, but it was unimportant…The fact that the author's name was readable was all that mattered. Date, Sage.
Cye still had to chuckle, the Ronin of Halo had always been quiet, no one had ever suspected him of having such a vibrant imagination or wondrous way with words. Torrent's bearer had never thought anything of seeing the blond writing down something in a notebook back in highschool, until the man revealed it was a book he was working on.
Which was currently on Japan's best-selling list, so Halo's bearer had gained himself quite a bit of fame, and as such had changed phone numbers so often that Cye could no longer remember which one was current.
Oh well…Maybe it was just as well to let the others get on with their lives, and not serve as a reminder of what they had all suffered in the past. At least, some days Cye felt that way. He couldn't have known that it was, at times, a shared sentiment…Nor could any of them have known it was not their sentiment.
A/N:I so got you with Yuki, come on admit it, you know I did. You thought it was going to be an actual woman; never expected it to be a cat (especially seeing as how it's Cye we're talking about here).