Shiane here! Even though this story is placed under our shared account, I just want to reiterate that it is entirely Jay'a creation. All reviews and praise should be addressed entirely to her. [All hail the Great Jay'a!]
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"There is a legend... Trust... Justice... Wisdom... I've sworn to crush the Dynasty's master... Ronin Warriors, I hope you can still save us... I'll show you how a real warrior fights... Watch out... I'll get rid of you once and for all... I'm not afraid... Kento of Hardrock... Cye of the Torrent... Sage of the Halo... Rowen of Strata... Ryo of the Wildfire."
Long ago, nine came from one.
Four left for darkness, five stayed with light.
The present was reality, but soon became legend.
Over the years, it was lost,
Only now to be reborn...
PART I
"Hey Brain!"
A blue-haired boy scowled as he heard the jeers filter down the hallway of the high school.
"Hey Hashiba, wreak any curves lately?" a second female voice said.
"Yeah, why don't you let someone else pass for once?"
Rowen growled as he brushed past the clump of girls, making them laugh even more. I hate mornings, he thought. And having to put up with the Bitch Squad first thing doesn't help.
"Hey Rowen!"
A large hand clamped down on RowenÕs shoulder as he turned around. "Oh, hey Kento."
"The Bitch Squad givin' ya trouble again?" Kento asked as Rowen opened his locker.
"No more 'an usual," he mumbled.
"Hey look! The sidekick has finally joined the Brain!"
Rowen fumed into his locker. "You'd think they'd get bored with harassing us after five years."
"Ah, they're just tryin' to make themselves feel better," Kento said. "Besides, they're the only ones who really don't like us."
"No, they're the only ones who don't like you. Just about everyone hates me." Rowen violently yanked a book from the bottom of his locker.
Kento frowned. "That's not true."
"Whatever." Rowen was about to say more but a yelp from down the hall cut him off.
"What's goin' on over there?"
"Looks like the Bitch Squad found someone else to harass," Rowen said as an unfamiliar brown-haired boy ducked into the bathroom.
"Poor kid," Kento said. "He's probably new here."
Rowen shrugged. "Better him than us." Just then the bell rang and the pair parted ways for first period.
"See ya at lunch Ro!"
* * * * * * * * * *
Blech. Biology, Kento thought as he sat down in his third period class. Now let's see... Did I remember to do my homework? He had started to flip through his book when he looked up to see the brown-haired kid from that morning come into the classroom. The boy handed a note to the teacher who directed him to sit in the empty chair behind and to the right of Kento.
Cool, Kento thought. I was hoping he'd be in one of my classes. Now I can find out who he is. Kento opened a folded piece of paper and checked the date on it. And a done homework on top of that. Damn I'm good.
Kento turned to face the boy. "Hey you're new here, right?" he asked.
The boy looked up, slightly startled. "Oh, why, yes. Yes I am," he replied in a lilting British accent.
Kento blinked in surprise. He certainly hadn't been expecting that to come out.
Seeing Kento's expression, the boy slunk further into his chair, fully expecting to be made fun of again.
"Where are you from?"
What? No one's asked a second question yet, the boy thought. "Well, uh, I was born in Japan but my family moved to England when I was very young. I just moved back here with my mother and sister."
"Wow! Cool!"
The boy looked at his hands. "I'm glad you think so," he said softly.
Oh I get it, Kento thought. "So that's what the Bitch Squad was after you for this morning, huh?"
"The what?"
"The Bitch Squad. Just a group of girls who go around and harass people. They've been doing it for years. Believe me, I know." He rolled his eyes.
"So you saw that?" he asked, embarrased.
"Not really. My friend Rowen and I just caught the tail end of it. Oh yeah, I'm Kento Rei Fung, by the way," he said sticking his hand out.
The boy took the proffered hand. "Cye Mouri."
"Mitochondria..." the teacher said pointedly, forcing the two boys to turn around.
Yuck. Biology. I'm glad lunch's in two periods...
* * * * * * * * * *
Kento set his lunch tray down across from Rowen, who was looking rather sullen. "Hey Ro, what's wrong?"
He shrugged. "Nuthin'."
"No lunch money again, huh?"
Rowen snorted. "Do I ever?"
Kento scanned his own tray and held out an apple to Rowen. "Here."
"I don't want it."
"Take it."
"I'm not hungry."
Kento sighed and set the apple down between the two of them. Rowen could be so stubborn about accepting things that he needed when they were offered. "You're a poor liar Rowen," he said. Rowen merely shrugged.
"Hey I found out about that kid from this morning," Kento said, changing the subject.
"Cye Mouri, you mean?"
"You've met him?"
"He's in my fifth period History class," Rowen said. "Unfortunately," he added under his breath.
The comment didn't escape Kento. He caught Rowen's gaze and raised an eyebrow.
"The teacher paired me with him," Rowen said as if that explained everything.
"So?"
"So I donÕt like him."
"Why not?"
"I dunno."
"Oh, c'mon. You gotta have a better reason than that."
"He just - I dunno. He rubs me the wrong way. Almost like he thinks he's better than everyone else."
"Now I know you're confused. If he had that kind of attitude, why wou;d he get harassed by the Bitch Squad?"
Rowen shrugged. "I dunno."
Kento sighed internally and took another bite of food as he contemplated the untouched apple that still sat between them. Damn it Rowen, I wish you'd take stuff that people offered to you. I wish you could make more friends, I wish you could get out of that hellhole of an apartment you live in with your dad... Kento surpressed a shudder that threatened to run down his spine. He'd really rather not think about that. I wish you'd let me help you more...
The bell rang, startling Kento out of his reverie. He picked up his tray and started to walk towards the garbage can, but glanced back just in time to see Rowen furtively shoving the apple into the pocket of his fleece. Kento smiled to himself but decided not to say anything about it. "Hey, you're still comin' over tonight, right?"
"Yeah, sure, if you want."
"Cool. I gotta go. See ya later Ro."
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A/N: Just a couple of things: The poem at the beginning is mine; however, Ronin Warriors in general is not. It is owned by Sunrise. FYI, I'm the same Jay'a that co-authored The Tales of Mia, in case you were interested. And if you have any comments or questions don't hesitate to email me at cmj_bn_10@hotmail.com. I love feedback, though try and keep any criticism to the constructive nature. Thanks! Ja ne! --Jay'a