Disclaimer: I do not own Ronin Warriors… but I really, really wanna! -Cries -It just isn't fair! I don't get ANYTHING I want!

After me, after you

After Talpa was long gone, the Ronin Warriors thought they didn't have to worry about. They could go on living normal lives, and they did that. They chose to still live in the same house, though there were some differences. Ryo and Mia shared a room, and the others bunked together, like before. White Blaze was built a little house outside, and Cye was still the main source of nutrition. Not that he minded it at all. Cye loved to cook, and on the side, he was hired by Kento's relative's restaurant in town. Kento worked there, also, but he preferred to be a server/entertainer. The customers found him simply hilarious.

Sage got a job up at the college, lecturing students about ancient times, and mystic artifacts. He was sure to keep those kids in line. Rowen still slept a lot, but most of the time, he was at home, taking a computer learning course on medical stuff. When he was studying, everyone knew better than to disturb him. Ryo decided to learn what Mia does, and he's been working with her for the past month.

That's right. There has been nothing going on for a whole month! It may not seem very long to anyone else, but to them, it was a breath of fresh air. They really thought they would get to live normally, finally. They had waited for this moment since they were kids, but now that it was here, they didn't know what to do with their lives. Cye was a good example. He couldn't wait for the fighting to end, and yet, once it did, all he could think about was when it would start up again. That's what he was talking to Kento about as the two left the grocery store. Kento shook his head and shifted the three bags of food he was balancing so that he could shake a finger at his best friend.

"Now, now, Cye…this isn't like you?"

"What? What do you mean not like me?"

"Well, what happened to the you that said he wanted the fighting to stop? Really, man, you get wacky mood swings!"

"No, they're not mood swings, it's just that… it doesn't feel like it's all over yet!"

"Yeah, whatever, man. Just unlock the car so we can get home and eat!"

"Okay, you glutton. Hold on a minute!"

Cye moved the bag he had to the other arm as his free hand searched his pocket for the car keys. When he found them, he held them up to Kento and they both smiled. A stranger watched from a café across the street, smiling, as time moved in slow motion. Cye lifted the button up towards the car, and pushed it. Even slower, his expression changed. He sensed something, but not soon enough. Something clicked in the car, and the next thing the two unexpected ronins know -they were being blown back. Kento is rammed into a metal gate of a closed building, denting it. He was out before he slid down and hit the ground. As for Cye, he remained perfectly conscious as he was pushed back through a store window. His eyes widened. The car had exploded, and he saw it jump up in the air just before it blew again, causing him to go into a spin. Cye was thrown further into the store, and he hit a number of manikins on his way. He finally stopped in the middle of the floor, covered in glass and a bit of blood. He couldn't tell how bad the cut on his forehead was, but his arm hurt the most out of the rest of his aching body. He tried once to stand, but his body protested too much.

Cye had to get outside. He didn't see Kento fall in there with him, which meant he must be on the street. He had to make sure his friend was okay. Very slowly, he managed to crawl back to the front of the store and out the window. That was a tricky one, and it hurt like you couldn't imagine, but he had to do it. He propped himself up on his good elbow and looked around. There was smoke and smoking car parts everywhere, making it hard to see. Most people passing by were too afraid to get close. He could hear some people talking, though. Good, they were calling for an ambulance. He needed one really bad.

And apparently, so did Kento. Cye finally saw him near the dented gate, lying on his stomach not moving. The groceries were gone, but that was the least of their problems. Again, he started moving, and after what felt like hours, he managed to get there to Kento. Truth was, it had been only five minutes, but time seemed to seem longer at times like that. All of the ronins had learned that over the years during the war.

With a shaky right hand, Cye reached out and touched Kento's unmoving hand, softly calling his name. Much to his relief, Kento groaned a little. Even if he didn't wake up, it was good to see that he was alive. Cye managed to remain conscious until the paramedics got there and loaded them both onto rolling beds. When Kento woke up, he was in the truck, with the doors about to close. A doctor was at his left, checking his vitals, and all he could think was he didn't know where Cye was.

Then, much to his horror, he looked out and saw his friend, unconscious and hooked up to an oxygen mask, being loaded into another ambulance. Kento yelled, but the doors closed on him.