A/N:
Welcome to a revised edition of Saving Grace, now entitled Until the Fall, My Dear starring our awesome troopers! I've been working on this particular story for a few weeks now, and I now would like to share it with all of you in hopes you'll enjoy it as much as I will enjoy writing to it. I've got it planned out mostly and will further type away at the next coming chapter. The next update? Well I can't say and won't bother to say "I'll have it by next week!" With the way things go with my writing it is sporadic at best. So please follow this story and review :)
Also, while they will have allies, it will not be about them. They're more for subplots anyway. I've had to bring in OC's for this particular story based on the fact that they will be needed for future plot twists and whatnot ;) But I'll let you be the judge to tell me if you like them or not.
Enjoy! :D
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing but story plot and a few OCs. One belongs to my dearest sista LG. Written purely for entertainment.
Until the Fall, My Dear synopsis:
The Ronin are at the end of their ropes. Even months after they had received their armors, bad things seem to happen all around them. An old friend appeals to them to once again bear arms and fight for their lives and their world. They must learn to trust their new allies and also themselves. But most of all they must trust their new armors to serve them and master their fear. If they don't, then it could be the end of the world as we know it.
Chapter One
"An," An old man who sat lotus style near a teenage girl with long dark hair put a hand on her head and softly said, "Do you understand what we ask?"
The girl, An, rubbed her crystal necklace that chimed a few times before becoming silent. "I do." She answered, her voice high with either nerves or excitement. It was hard to tell from the way she looked so determined. Despite what was to come, he knew she was ready. Pulling his hand away, he nodded in absolute understanding.
"Tomorrow then." He said, willing his legs to come out of the tight position. He stretched them out in front of him and sighed, rubbing them gently. "You really are the best, you know that."
"This coming from you?" An said dryly, "How comforting." She took his papyrus paper and rolled it up vertically. She shoved it in her robes and bowed to him. "Tomorrow then."
"You're going to burn it!" A cry came from the kitchen. Hissing and splashing could be heard with another cry of indignation.
"You're the one who put the damn thing on high!" A male voice cut through the hissing, coughing almost. There was a whoosh and small snap that sounded more like a short explosion. Black smoke started to permeate through the air. Coughing could be heard as an aftermath.
"Rowen," The girl's voice patiently chided, "You know better than to blame someone who actually knows how to cook."
"I know how to cook, Midori." Rowen's face was rather filled with agitation as he pulled the charred spatula out of the young girl's hand. Midori crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her foot, giving him a pointed look.
"Why is it that you're so smart, yet so inclined to mess up a simple meal as Hamburger Helper, I will never till my last breath understand why." Midori refrained from snickering from the glare she received from the Ronin of Strata.
He poked her with the cooling spatula, or what was left of it and started eddying her to the exit.
"I don't appreciate being made fun of." Rowen said, a steel glint in his eyes.
"Oh c'mon Ro. Stop being such a prude." Midori said with a roll of her dark brown eyes. "You seem to forget you asked me to teach you."
"And I assumed you knew what you were doing." Rowen said with forced patience.
"Assuming can be a bad thing, you know."
"Just get out!"
There was knock on the door that caused Rowen pause of his poking Midori.
"Wonder who that could be?" Rowen asked, lowering the spatula and walking around Midori, "I still want you gone, you imp."
Midori stuck her tongue out at the blue haired warrior and slumped down on the sofa, earning a rich glare from him in response. She stubbornly jutted out her jaw and crossed her arms around her waist, sinking low in the cushions.
Rowen let out an air of exasperation before waltzing to the door and opening it with some gusto as the knocker was now pounding on his door. "What?" He asked bitingly.
Cye Mouri stood there with a shock of reddish brown hair poking out of a backwards blue ball cap. His sea-green eyes held amusement as he looked over the tall lanky Strata bearer to see Midori sunk into the plush beige couch centered in the middle of the living area. He quirked his eyebrows at her and then at Rowen who shrugged.
"She's your problem now." Rowen said as he allowed Cye entrance.
Cye snorted, and shook his head. "My problem now?" His nose scrunched up when the smell of burnt food stung his nose. "What is that smell?"
"That's Midori's fault."
Brown eyes rounded on Rowen, boring a hole into his skull. He dutifully ignored her and sat safely away in a chair.
"What did you do?" Cye asked curiously, sitting next to her on the couch.
"I didn't do anything." Midori kept her gaze on Rowen who continued to look the other way. "This blue haired chipmunk forgot to lower the stove from high to medium and he burnt the damn food. And here he's blaming me for it."
Rowen stared at her in disbelief. "You should know what you're doing!"
"You're an almost eighteen year old man living by himself who's practically considered the biggest genius of our time and you don't even know how to follow a simple direction of lowering heat." Midori shot back annoyed.
"I told you I forgot! Kami, how long are you going to use that useless argument of me being book smart but having no common sense."
"Until the day one of us dies, asshole."
"Do I have to put both of you in time out?" Cye chimed in, his head getting a workout from watching the pingpong game of insults.
"No." Both of them glared at each other. Cye sighed.
"Don't you have anywhere to be, Midori?" Rowen asked her.
She merely shrugged. Some of her long black hair had fell from the ponytail she messily put up to help with Rowen's cooking. It had been the only thing she had set for the afternoon after school. So here she was, still in her uniform of dark green pleated skirt and a white sailor top with the same color of her skirt, in the afternoon when she could have been anywhere but. She only did this in spite of herself because she adored the Ronin of Strata after he saved her from failing the first year of high school. She was very grateful to him, but this was going overboard for accusing her and getting angry with her for spoiling his food he demanded to learn.
It wasn't like Rowen was a bad cook, she saw him cook easier things. But with the comings and goings of things happening over the last few weeks, Midori felt compelled to strengthen his cooking habits; and also cook for him if he didn't really want to learn to show her thanks for his help. That eagerness to help him in return turned out to be a complete fiasco.
It was funny because Midori barely knew Rowen before Cye introduced her to him. She didn't particularly care for his condescending insights or his need to be politically correct all the time. It would cause fierce debates between Rowen and her to the point those who were around them had to leave the room exhausted because neither would give up regardless how out there their answers were.
Rowen looked pointedly at her again, apparently waiting for an answer. Through her musings, Midori hadn't paid attention to where Cye had made his way to the kitchen in order to salvage the food that was left after his arrival.
"Well?" Rowen's voice pierced through her thoughts and she glared at him.
"Well what?" She asked more sharply than intended.
"What are you still doing here? Don't you have anyone else to pester?" Rowen asked with quirked eyebrows.
"I could pester Kento, but he's working right now at his parents. So you're just stuck with me until neesan comes home." Midori stuck her tongue out in response to Rowen's dramatic sigh.
"How is Kyoko doing?" Cye poked his head from the kitchen and frowned. "I haven't seen her in ages."
"She's doing fine. She's busy with school and work." Midori closed her eyes as she yawned and then reopened them as she sighed, "And the hospital visits too."
"Hospital visits still?" Cye frowned as he came back into the living room and sat down on the chair again. "Mitsue still sick?"
"Yeah." Casting her eyes downward, Midori looked sad for a moment before waving it off with a laugh, "She's such a stubborn old fool."
"What's wrong with your mother?" Rowen asked, his eyes adjusted on her for a moment before moving to the outside where the sun was starting to seep through the curtains, casting different shadows around the poorly lit room.
"She has leukemia." Midori said after a while. "They diagnosed her a couple of years ago, but she's been fighting it with chemo." She sighed, "She was in remission for a while but they found another spot."
"Well, she responded to treatment all this time," Cye smiled at Midori before continuing, "She'll pull through."
Midori shrugged, "I hope so. She's so stubborn, so she could fight it."
Rowen didn't know how to respond to the information she had given, because in reality he didn't know how it felt to have someone close to him have a terminal sickness. He could tell by the way she looked it wasn't good, but still refused to say anything about it. Knowing himself, he'd say something wrong and really piss her off if he did open his mouth. He also didn't believe in giving pity, but he could empathize.
Cye seemed to have given Midori a little space as she collected herself and her thoughts. He was back into the kitchen, trying to clean up the mess. Rowen gritted his teeth and looked back to the kitchen entryway, "C'mon Cye, you're giving me a bad reputation! I'm not a bad housekeeper!"
"Not that you are, Ro, it's just the fact that it stinks and I can't stand the smell anymore."
"OCD bastard." Rowen grumped.
Midori snorted and shook her head. "I guess I should go." She said getting up. Her skirt had risen up as she slid off the couch, giving Rowen a glimpse of her backside. He grinned as he looked at her when she turned and straightened her skirt.
"Still wearing granny panties I see. No guy will date you if you continue to wear those frumpy things. Then again, frumpy personalities make for frumpy wear." Rowen smirked at Midori's reaction. Her face had gone tomato red.
"Prick." Midori said, but then raised her skirt again and snorted when his eyes became wide. "You can't even get past the frumpy stage without getting a –"
"Midori!" Cye came in just in time to see the exchange going on. "What in the hell are you doing?"
Midori laughed a little before pushing her skirt down. "Just showing my shorts! See, they're pretty!" She was about to throw her skirt back up when Cye firmly took her arms and placed them at her sides with a stern look.
"Stop being childish." He chided with a sigh. Cye stood there a good minute looking at her before releasing her and walking back to the chair he occupied before. "You're welcome." He looked at Rowen with good measure who stared back at him blankly.
"I'm not being childish." Midori said sulkily and crossed her arms over her chest before she let out a sigh. "I'm gonna go then." She waved them off as she got her book sack together and walked out the door with a grimace.
After a few minutes of awkward silence, Rowen looked at Cye. "What do you mean you're welcome?"
"For saving your ass a trip to the emergency room. You burnt the food beyond recognition."
Rowen groaned. "But it wasn't me!"
Ryo eyed the dark haired girl in front of him with a frown. They were stationed at a local café, sitting near a table in the outside patio. Ryo had no idea why this made him so uncomfortable, but outwardly he didn't show it. He merely continued to stare.
"If you keep eying me like that, Ryo, I'm going to throw my cup at you and hit you on your head." She said calmly, sipping her drink.
Ryo's eyes narrowed and he finally looked away. "Still sarcastic as ever."
There was a clink of her glass being put down before she let out a belting laugh that caused heads of their neighbors to turn their way. Embarrassed, Ryo glared at the girl.
"Elayne." He warned.
"I'm just being honest." Elayne said with a roll of her eyes. "You can't even take a little criticism?"
"I'm not calling that criticism. I'm calling that flat out threatening."
"Sweetie, I don't threaten, I promise and deliver." She popped him on his head before smiling sweetly, "See? Delivered."
Ryo gawked at her with wide blue eyes as he rubbed his forehead. "Very funny."
"I thought so." Elayne said and again sat back in her chair. "You really ought to learn to relax, Ryo." She sipped her drink again and continued to stare at the bearer of Wildfire.
With getting such an intense look in return, Ryo felt himself sinking back like a scolded child. He glared at her. "You're doing that on purpose."
"What on purpose?" She asked innocently.
"Ugh, never mind. What are you doing back in town anyway?"
"I'm hurt that you're not excited to see me." Elayne grasped her heart and pouted. "Shame, I thought you of all people would be ecstatic to see me."
"With you comes trouble." Ryo replied coolly.
"Pah, please. Ryo, trouble pounces on you the moment your foot is out the door." Elayne shot back, cocking him a stare that pretty much stated what all she meant by that statement alone.
Ryo's face flushed and he looked around nervously before slamming his hands down on the table and glared at her. "Look, you called me out here after three years of never once calling me and saying 'hey Ryo, what's up?' and you turn up on my door scaring the crap out of me and you're here joking like old friends. Get to the point or I'm leaving."
Elayne just watched him, not answering his outburst. Ryo huffed out strong breaths a few more times and then sat down, calmly, but still eyed her with a harsh look.
"You done?" Elayne sternly said. Her face became hard and cool as she waited for him to answer.
In return Ryo crossed his arms over his chest and waited, giving her a small nod. It was all it took before she launched herself at him and grabbed the collar of his shirt. "The reason why I'm back here is to warn your ass of a potential crisis that I know you and the others have been feeling for the past month." She paused, and let go of his shirt before sitting down. She crossed her arms and continued, "And furthermore, I don't have to explain my absence in the last three years because you're being an asshole who should be glad I'm even back." Elayne nervously fingered the jewel hanging on a small chain around her neck.
Ryo let out a loose breath and closed his eyes. His heart was pounding from her spurt of anger and he felt himself shaking a little from the steel glint in her eyes. It shouldn't make him feel out of sorts when she looked at him like that, but with past experiences, he could tell that she really was upset with him and his carelessness. He didn't want to admit but he did feel a bit shamed at his outburst.
It still surprised Ryo at how much Elayne knew about the armors and their past. Even though the events of past battles and wars that the Ronin Warriors fought in, Elayne knew about them in great detail. No one ever even mentioned her while the war was going on, but after Talpa was defeated, and the year that they stayed with Mia as a result of trying to mend mentally and physically with the blessings of their families, the Ronin all found out they knew Elayne personally; having grew up partially with her.
She was sensitive to their power and themselves individually and as a whole mostly due to her upbringing as well. Elayne was, by far, the medium between the mortal world and the netherworld. And in another harrowing surprise, she even knew the Seasonals…it still creeped him out to be honest.
Ryo knew it made her uncomfortable when they mentioned it. It had been three years since he last saw her and, while it hurt that he never heard from her; her reasons must have been valid for her not to tell him.
"Stop deep thinking and hear what I have to say. Or do you want another thumpin?"
Ryo blinked from his thoughts and raised his eyebrows in a fashion of mild surprise. "I'm not deep thinking. I'm merely just appraising the scenery around me."
Elayne rolled her eyes dramatically before kicking him under the table. "Just stop and listen." She said, all play gone. Ryo winced and rubbed his shin with a startled look her way. He narrowed his eyes but did not say anything. "That's more like it." She sighed. "It'd be best if you all regrouped at the Koji Estate as soon as possible. The feeling you've been getting, Ryo, isn't exactly friendly. You have a long and hard battle that's starting now."
Ryo frowned, "What do you mean?"
"Think about it. Have any of you guys felt a rift beginning between all of you?"
"That was months ago…when Suzunagi gave us our new armors." Ryo said. He never noticed their habits change from real life responsibilities. Now that, though, he thought about it, he hadn't seen Sage or Cye or even Rowen in a very long time. Ryo had seen Kento a few days ago, but, it was in passing. Mostly he'd see them in school, but on breaks and in between they didn't get together to test their abilities with the new armors. Now that it was shoved right in front of his face by someone who knew them more than themselves, it hit him full force. He realized now how tired the guys had felt during their only training session and that was six months ago.
Ryo himself had struggled with training. Just the other day, Mia had commented on how pale he had been. That wasn't what bothered him though. It was the way their armors were counteracting each other. He couldn't put his finger on it, but now? Now that he was vaguely aware? It all made sense.
"There's a new threat?" He asked slowly.
Elayne had assessed the way he was sinking in the small information she had given him. The news that she had given him wasn't the worst, but she would keep that to herself until further notice.
"If you want to get technical. Yeah." Elayne said, rolling her eyes.
"Who is it?"
"Haven't gotten that memo yet. But I have a good guess of who it could be and what they're wanting."
Ryo waited for the answer as he anxiously looked at her, blinking.
Elayne snorted, "Ya never know," She said sarcastically, "it could be the twin of Talpa bent on revenge for the destruction of his or her brother and wants all of your heads! He'd be this tall, lanky guy with a squeaky voice going, "Vengeance will be mine! Wahahahaa!"
Ryo looked like he lacked amusement as he bore into her with his blue eyes. "That's not funny."
"Nothing's funny to you…but you have to admit it would be funny if your next bad guy you are waiting to fight is that. I shall dub him Salsa, and he will wear a mask of a sad clown." She smirked, "Hey, at least he won't eat any of the guys like Talpa did."
Ryo winced and grumbled something unintelligently. Elayne giggled in mirth. This was just too much fun.
Ryo sighed through his nose before getting up and shoving a few yen on the table. "Will you be there?"
"Of course," Elayne said quietly, seeming to be in deep thought before she shoved her hands in her pockets. She already had the chair in place and the money on the table. "Just get the guys to come this weekend and we'll have a meeting." Her violet eyes roamed over the sidewalks and building before they landed on Ryo's.
"Just make sure you tell Mia, of course. I'm not responsible for the reaction if five guys plop back into her life without warning." Elayne said with a grin.
"Ha ha," Ryo said with a roll of his eyes. He was hesitiant as he turned, then offered, "Do you need me to walk you home?"
"Seriously Ryo?" Elayne laughed, and pulled at his cheek. "D'aww, you're worried about me! How sweet!"
His cheeks colored and he glared at her, "I'm not! It's just that…."
"Oh c'mon Ryo. I'm almost sixteen, I think I'm more than liable to walk myself home than the average girl. You boys are so overprotective, it's almost like you're all stalkers." She sniggered when he protested. "Look at it this way, if I'm aducted, you'll be the first to know." She winked before walking away. "Ja!"
Ryo was prepared to watch her walk down the street until he blinked and she was gone, another head in the crowd.
I'd like to thank LegendsGuardian for allowing me to use her character, Elayne, from her epic story The Gathering of the Legends. Go read! It is REALLY good and you'll get a kick out of it.