T: Vision Turned to Night

Sum: What happens when Sage is unable to restore Ryo's sight after it was removed in 'Halo's prison'  slight AU

A/N: Everything in italics is what happened on the episode "Halo's Prison".  There may be some differences.

***

Prologue

Ryo of Wildfire made his way through the cave in search of Sage.  He knew it was a race against time, yet he couldn't hurry.  The reason was he couldn't see.

To the casual observer, it would seem Ryo couldn't see due to the fact that his eyes were closed.  But that wasn't it, even if he opened his eyes he still couldn't see, Sekhmet had poisoned his eyes, taking from him his eye sight.  To open his eyes and expose them to the air put the Ronin in extreme pain.  So much so that the last time he had tried he had been forced to his knees.

While he moved he could feel the poison moving through his body, making his arms and legs weak.  He could only hope when he found Sage, the Halo armor bearer would be able to heal him.

Suddenly he tripped, wincing at the sound his armor made against the stone.  He pulled himself to his feet and pulled out his swords just in case someone or something heard him.  He stopped and stood still listening to the sounds of the cave, fearing he would hear the tell-tale sounds of Dynasty solders coming for him.  Thankfully the only sound that came to his ears was his breathing and his heartbeat that seemed to want to explode from his armored chest.

A slight wind seemed to blow and made his swords vibrate.  After a few seconds Ryo realized there was no wind.  Yet something made his swords vibrate.  Hoping against hope that maybe it was Sage causing the vibrations he followed where the vibrations seemed to be coming from.

**

Time passed and Ryo finally stumbled into a wider open room, and Sekhmet's laughter greeted him.  He could hear Ully trying to tell him where to go, along with Mia.  Then Sekhmet revealed why Ryo was having so much trouble to them, his now blindness, and Ryo could feel the horror radiate off Mia and Ully.  Ully was the first to recover and helped direct him to where Sage was frozen in stone.  He could sense Sage but couldn't get to him.  And still Sekhmet mocked. 

Then the Warlord attacked him, trying to beat the Ronin leader to death.

He would have been successful too, if something hadn't have woken up Sage.

Sage saved him from Sekhmet and helped him, Mia, and Ully get of out the cave.  Once in the sun light Sage tried to heal his eyes.  The Halo bearer placed his sword against Ryo's armored forehead…

Chapter 1

The Halo bearer placed his sword against Ryo's armored forehead and tried to reflect the sunlight into Ryo's eyes to heal him.  Nothing happened.  Sage tried a second time and the results were the same.

"Sage?" Mia asked, cutting into Ryo's dark prison.

"I don't know what's wrong, but I can't heal him." Sage said, frustration and confusion clear in his voice.

"Sage?" Ryo asked, trying to sound calm, unlike the fear that was penetrating him to the core.

Sage took the sword away from his helmet and sighed.  "Ryo I don't know what's going on, but I can't heal you."

"No." Ryo whispered.

Something brushed his leg and he jumped.  A second later he realized it was White Blaze.

"Maybe it's just cause Sage just woke up." Ully offered.

"Maybe." Mia said, slight hope in her voice.

"I'll try again later." Sage said.

Ryo could tell he was trying to sound hopeful, but through the link the Ronins shared Ryo could tell Sage didn't think he would be able to heal him.

"Let's get you to the car." Sage said and gently grabbed his arm.

Mia led the way and the group arrived at the car several minutes later.  Ryo thankfully didn't trip over anything.  He could tell Mia and Ully were both getting nervous around him.

Once at the car, Ryo and Sage banished their armor.  Mia opened the doors for Ryo, and Sage guided him into the backseat.  He then climbed in with him.  Ully was given the front seat so he couldn't jostle Ryo anymore then necessary.

"How are you doing?" Sage suddenly asked him.

Mia started the jeep and began to drive to the next location, never realizing the two Ronins were talking.

"The pain's starting to go away."

"…'Churning beneath a swirl of salt'." Mia mused.

"That's where Cye is?" Ryo asked.

"I believe so.  'Burning within a throne of rock' I believe refers to Kento."

"Then we need to find them, and fast." Ryo said.

"Ryo, your eyes?" Mia asked.

"I'll be fine, we need to get the others then worry about my sight."

"How are you planning on fighting?" Sage asked, worry for his leader clear in his voice.

"Let me worry about that." Ryo said.

In reality he was scared and not sure at all what he was going to do.  How could he fight when he couldn't see his enemy?  And would his sight come back?  It needed to, how could he defeat Talpa with out being able to see him?

Mia continued to drive to where Cye rested while Ryo was left alone with his doubts. 

TBC