Prologue

"Did you feel that?"

It was completely dark in the apartment, all lights turned out for the sole purpose to create a more comfortable atmosphere, though it didn't seem to do much good. The two women were still very jumpy, and were cautious of anything that lurked behind the corner. The one who had spoken stood, walking over to the window; moving the curtains to the side, she glanced out into the city, feeling the power that had struck her begin to fade.

"Yes." Bringing her head up from where it was buried in her arm, the other woman watched the window intently. Suddenly her bag that lay beside her began to softly glow; turning to it curiously, she pulled out a small round object; it gave off a deep purple glow, pulsing softly in her hand. "I think Dais' armor has found a new owner."

Black hair pushed to the side of her face, the woman at the window continued to stare out the window. "I think I know where to look." Not two blocks away stood an art college, students busily coming and going.

Chapter 1

Grinning sheepishly, Christian flipped straightened blonde hair from her face, realizing only after the action was complete that it did no good when the man she was flirting with couldn't see her. Quickly typing her reply, she sent the latest picture of herself to him, hoping to create anticipation for him. The picture contained mainly her face, but a hint of cleavage was visible, though it was hard to tell if she was wearing a shirt or not. Which was the point.

At the moment, she was in New York; the man she was flirting with online for the past three weeks was in Japan, but that wasn't a problem at all – she was actually moving back there. Her dorm room was half packed away; her roommate's side completely untouched. All Christian had out now was her laptop, but since her plane didn't leave for another five hours, she kept it out.

Re-applying her lip gloss, she read the man's response. I can't wait to see you in person. Smiling, she replied. The man's name was Kento and he seemed simple enough; he lived in a small apartment with his friend, Sai, who did the cooking, while Kento did most of the eating. The pictures he sent were flattering, and while he was a little dense at times, she enjoyed talking to him; he was sweet and one of the few guys she could be honest with.

Though he claimed to be five five, a good two inches shorter than herself, Christian knew his other attributes made up for that. He was very muscular with a slightly larger build and had gorgeous indigo hair, with a deep tan and large dark blue eyes.

She bit her lip in anticipation, hoping her family didn't mind she had met him online. Though… she may not even tell them that much.

X X X

"So she's coming tomorrow?" Sai asked as he flipped a burger in the pan, the light sizzling noise softly reaching his ears as the smoked traveled upwards. Light blue eyes looked toward the living room, where Kento sat at the computer desk.

Kento slid back in his computer chair so he could see into the kitchen. Arms raised behind his head, he relaxed his head into his hands. "Yeah. She's visiting family today."

"Huh." Looking back to the burgers, Sai placed them on two separate buns, then walked over to the sink to rinse the pan. A large puff of smoke came up as water connected with the pan, but Sai ignored it as he continued to rinse it. "I think Sage mentioned something about his sister moving back from America."

Shaking his head, Kento moved back toward the computer. "Yeah, sister, Sai." Opening a picture of the woman he'd been flirting with for the past three weeks, he smiled. "She is hot. Anyone in Sage's family could not compare to her."

Sai come out of the kitchen, delicately holding two plats with hamburgers on them. "Oh, don't be so mean. Sage is very attractive."

Kento snorted.

Handing a plate to him, Sai seated himself on the couch next to the computer. "I must admit that she is very attractive as well. You said her name is Christian?"

"Yeah," Kento said with a mouthful of burger. Ketchup dripped slightly from his mouth, but he easily ignored it as he continued to eat.

"It will be nice to finally meet her," Sai said, after he thoughtfully chewed a piece of his food, "after all the things I've heard about her."

"I can't wait to see her," Kento returned his gaze to the picture. "It's been awhile since I've been so crazy about a girl, you know? She's just so… perfect."

Sai laughed, his soft voice a melody. "Don't get your hopes up, Kento. The internet is not always what it seems."

"Yeah, well, I'd like to think she's for real."

"Me, too, but I'm just saying."

"Yeah, yeah." Kento took one last bite of his burger, chewing hungrily. "You made more of these, right?"

As Sai nodded, Kento headed back for the kitchen for more burgers.

X X X

"We'll be safe here?"

"Positive."

"Who comes back here?"

Christian rolled her eyes, shaking her head. "I already told you, no one. My bro and sis each have their own cabin, too, and I'm not allowed near them. So you two just stay put."

"I need to speak with your brother," another voice said, the woman stepping forward from the shadows of the cabin. Her dark blue hair fell in her face, though it was much shorter than it had been the last time she was in the mortal realm; to try to hide who she was, Christian had suggested changing her look, which included cutting her hair. Christian also picked out a new wardrobe for her; instead of being dressed in normal Nether World clothing, she wore close fitting jeans, a turtle neck and a light jacket. The ominous voice that came with her threw off the whole effect. Go figure.

"I know that," Christian said impatiently, her hands twitching at her clothes. "But it'll be a big shock, you know? So can I have some time with my family and then you can talk to him?"

"This is very important, Christian," the woman who had been speaking before said. Christian had also insisted she change her look; while she would not cut her hair or change the style it was in, she agreed to more 'normal' clothing and now wore a slim skirt that reached to her knees, a low cut deep purple shirt and a over coat that was white.

"So is this, Evie," the younger woman said, keeping her gaze steady with Evie's. "I understand Lady Kayura's life is in danger, but I assure you that won't be a problem here." Turning her gaze to the woman in the shadows, she bowed slightly. "I apologize, but I must see my family first. I haven't spent much time with them for years. You will get a chance to talk to my brother, I promise."

Kayura kept in the shadows, but bowed her head. "As you see fit."

"Thank you." Smiling at her, Christian was her bright self again. "I'll come back for you guys in a bit!" Running down the rode, she waved good bye to them as Evie shut the door.

"I still think you should see this Sage first," Evie said, making her way through the small cabin.

"She is right; it would be strange to intrude. I highly doubt his parents are aware he is a Ronin Warrior." Kayura sunk onto the couch, looking out the window intently. "I just hope she is right about us being safe here."

X X X

"Christian? I'm not sure I can call you that," Sage said as everyone was seated at the dinner table. She had been greeted, then talked at, and now everyone had sat down to dinner, celebrating his younger sister's return. "What is wrong with Satsuki?"

Christian rolled her eyes, a potsticker in her chopsticks. "Please, Sage. I'm getting in touch with my American roots."

"You're not even American!"

"Hush, Sage," his mother said, her lightly grayed hair pulled back in a traditional Japanese bun. Her face was that of wisdom through a small amount of years, but her face as also kind as she smiled at her three children. "If she wants that name, let her have it. It will never change that her birth name is Satsuki." Watching Christian smile, wrinkles around her eyes increased. "It is so good to have you home, Christian."

"Thaaaank you, Mummy," Christian smiled sweetly at her, and then stuck her tongue at her brother when their mother turned to their father.

Sage sighed and stuffed some rice into this mouth as their oldest sister, Yayoi, questioned Christian about the American boys.

"Psssch, American boys are so immature," Christian said, making a disgusted look on her face. "Seriously, a twenty year old is like a five year old over there. I'm not even joking."

"Oh, really? So you didn't meet any boys you liked?" Yayoi asked, her eye lashes fluttering.

Her younger sister laughed, waved her chopsticks at her. "Yeah, right. They were all jerks. But I did meet this boy…"

"A boy? Who?" Their father interjected, food being dropped from this chopsticks.

"Okay, a man, Father." She smiled, tapping her lips with a napkin. She could see Sage watching her intently from the corner of her eye, but she ignored him. "He's actually from around here, so…"

"How'd you meet him?" Sage asked, picking at his food lightly.

"Oh, you know, just around. He wasn't there long though, he came back here to Japan and I'm going to visit him tomorrow…"

"By yourself!? No! I will not have it!" Her father slammed his fists on the table, and when everyone stared, he turned slightly pink and looked to his wife. "Please, you cannot have our youngest go see someone she barely knows…"

Their mother raised her hand to her husband's lips and nodded. "I see your concern. Yayoi?"

"Uh, I'd love to go, but I'm actually going to pick out my wedding flowers tomorrow."

"I'll go," Sage said, carefully picking up some noodles with his chopsticks and swallowing them as everyone stared.

Christian raised a brow, lips pursed outward. "Uh-huh. What's the catch?"

"What catch? I want to see who my little sister has fallen for."

"Heeeey, I didn't say that. Did I say that?"

"You didn't have to."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"That even after only see you on holidays for the past four years, I still know what that look means."

"Oh, please."

"Children," their mother caught all of their attention; folding her hands at her lap, she smiled at Sage. "Thank you for offering, Sage, you will accompany Christian tomorrow."

X X X

"Watch out for that pad—"

"I can see them, Sage," Christian said, slowing her car as an old woman walked across the street. "It's not that different in America. We just drive on the other side of the rode."

"We?"

"Oh, don't start."

They drove in silence for another couple of minutes, Christian watching the rode intently, but sneaking a couple of glances at her brother. Why had he come along? She was old enough to take care of herself. Thrusting her bottom lip out, she turned another corner. It wasn't like this in America; once you were 18, you were your own person. And living like that for four years made her believe it, but now that she was back home, she was under house arrest again. Great. Back to the good old days.

"I really did miss you, Satsuki."

Peering at her brother through the corner of her eye, Christian smiled wryly. "I missed you, too, onii-chan."

Sage smiled at her old affection term for older brother, his eyes still strictly forward. "How'd you really meet this guy?"

"Pardon?"

He sighed, readjusting himself in his seat. "You're a horrible liar. And there's no way you met someone in America, who coincidently lives here, in Japan, and not only that, but very close to our house."

Christian grinned. "Couldn't pull a wool over your eyes, huh?"

"…What?"

She sighed. "I have a lot to teach you, onii-chan." Pulling into an apartment complex, she parked in the nearest open stall. Glancing to her brother, she raised a brow. "What?"

"Hm? Oh." Smiling, he stepped out of the car. "Nothing, I just have some friends who live here."

"Oh, that's cool." She turned off the car and got out as well, stretching her legs. She purposely wore one of her shortest skirts, a black tight one, with black boots that matched; her top was black and pink, complementing her curves, but covering enough so that the fall chill wouldn't bother her. Walking toward the apartment complex, she pulled out a piece of paper. "Let's see… Second floor…" Sage followed silently behind, his hands thrust deep in his overcoat pocket.

Climbing the stairs, Christian flipped curled blonde hair from her face, her gray eyes searching for the right apartment number. Another set of stairs up, she found it. Smiling reassuringly at her brother, she knocked on the door, her hands clasped behind her back.

The man who opened the door was a little shorter than her, with light brown hair that fell in his face and just onto his shoulders. He had beautiful sea blue eyes, with a skin tone that suggested he wasn't Japanese; his voice proved this. "Oh, hello, it's so nice to meet you! I'm Sai!" He hugged her enthusiastically, his thick British accident comforting.

She hugged back, smiling. "It's nice to meet you, too. I'm Christian."

"Sai?" Sage peered over Christian's shoulder. "You've been flirting with Sai online?"

Sai laughed, shaking his head. "Oh, wow, this is not going to end well. Come in."

"How so?" Sage asked, as Christian asked, "How do you two know each other?"

Shaking his head, Sai shut the door behind them. "Sorry, I'm staying out of this. Ken—"

Christian found herself wrapped in large arms, the feel of them not at all discomforting, in fact, just the opposite. She found herself responding immediately and gazed deeply into dark blue eyes. "Kento! Ohmygod, it's soooo good to finally meet you!"

"Likewise," Kento said as she finally released her. When he saw Sage, his jaw dropped. "What are you doing here?"

Sage's fists had clenched unconsciously, as well as his teeth grinding. "This… is my little sister."

"What? Your sister's name is Satuski… and she's Christian."

Christian glanced to Sage and then to Kento. "I'm so completely lost."

Sage took a deep breath, and managed to unclench his hands, though his stance was still stiff. "How did you manage to flirt with my sister, of all people?"

"Hey, come on now, Sage, it's not like he knew." Sai smiled at his old time friend, resting a hand on his shoulder. "Come on, it's fine. It's just Kento; at least it's not some jerk who would use her or something, like most people on the internet."

"Helloooo, I'm still, like, really lost." Christian folded her arms, looking at her brother and Kento.

"Oh, we're old… friends," Kento said, scratching his head lightly. "Though he doesn't like me much."

"I can see that."

"Kento, I cannot believe… you'd search the internet and go for my sister. How can you be so shallow?! You could have any girl here, but you have to go online and pick my sister!?"

"Hey, now, I'm the one who did the online searching," Christian said, raising her hands up. "As you pointed out, very unlikely I'd find someone in this area, right? Well, I wanted someone for when I got back home. I found him. Now I live happily ever after. End of story."

"Happily ever after!? With him!?"

"Sage, calm down," Sai said, patting his friend's shoulder. "Kento's a good guy. As much as you guys haven't gotten a long in the past, you trust him, right? After all we've been through, you know Kento's a good guy."

Sage untensed his shoulders, his eyes never leaving Kento's. "I guess." He sighed, thrusting his hands in his pockets. "Sorry, Kento. It's just… she's my baby sister."

"Hey, I'm not a baby."

"Yeah, I get it. No big." He smiled. "I was like that when my sister got married, so I understand."

"Married!?"

"Not that I'm suggesting we're getting married! I'm just sayin'." Kento threw Christian an uneasy smile, but she returned it, which made him melt inside.

"So!" Christian turned to Sage, placing her hands on his shoulders. "Now that you see Kento's not Big Bad Wolf, are you going home?"

"No."

Sighing, Christian dropped her arms. "Somehow, I knew you were going to say that."

X X X

"He's soooo perfect," Christian said as she twirled in the grass. Stepping to keep up with her brother, she pulled the car keys from her purse.

"I wouldn't say that."

She snorted, shaking her head. "You wouldn't say a lot of things."

"Granted."

"You need a girl, Sage. Seriously. Unless you like guys, in which case, you need a guy."

"…Can we change the subject?"

Christian stared at her brother over the hood of the car. "OHMYGODAREYOUGAY!?"

"What? No!" Sage glared at his sister, then got into the car. "I just don't want to talk about that stuff."

"Sure." She got in the car as well, starting the engine. "You know, you can tell me if you are. I don't care, I just think Mom and Dad would care."

"Tell you what?"

"That you're gay."

"I am not gay!"

"Yeah, okay."

"Really, Christian…"

"Oh, hey, there's someone who needs to talk to you."

"Who?"

Christian peered at him as she headed back home. "I think I should show you."

X X X

There was a knock on the door. Another knock.

Evie watched the door for a moment; when Kayura nodded, she walked to the door and opened it. "Christian."

"Evie, don't look so happy to see me." She smiled as she patted the older woman's shoulder. "This is Sage."

Sage bowed slightly, his face telling her he had no idea why he was here. She bowed back and stepped aside, allowing him and his sister inside.

Gasping, Sage watched as Kayura came from the shadows. "Kayura!"

"Sage of the Halo," Kayura bowed.

He bowed as well, this time on his knees. "Ancient One."

Christian kept to the back, watching the scene play before her. Evie stood with her, hands holding onto the katana that had been hanging in the living room.

"I need your help, Sage," Kayura said as he stood. "There is trouble in the Nether World."

Sage's face remained expressionless, his hands at his sides. "Trouble?"

"My life is in danger… someone does not want me to rule in the Nether World," she said, her voice deeply ominous. "They have killed the Warlords… and I barely managed to escape, but I had this woman's help." She gestured to Evie. "I need the Ronin Warriors to help me find whoever is after me, and keep them away from the Jewel of Life."

"You think they're after the Jewel?"

"I do not know, but in all likelihood, they should be, if they want the Nether World."

"I believe Ryo has the Jewel…" He glanced back to his sister. "What does she have to do with any of this?"

"I'm a part of it, isn't it cool!?" Christian grinned at him. "Seriously, now I get to really kick butt."

"What!?" Sage turned back to Kayura. "Why is my sister apart of this!?"

Kayura sighed and pulled out Sekmet's orb. "When the Warlords were killed, their armor needed new hosts." Nodding toward Evie, she continued, "Evie is from the Nether World; as I was trying to escape, Cale's orb reacted to her. The sign of Obedience appeared on her forehead." She rolled the orb between her hands, watching Sage. "She helped me escape to this world, where Dais' orb began to react… at first, we didn't know where to go. But we found an apartment that was not being used and occupied it… that's when the orb began to really react. After I told Evie Dais' attributes, she went to the art college in search of his armor's new master. That's when the orb indicated Christian. It is strange that she is your sister, since you, too, possess Armor."

Sage stared at the orb in Kayura's hand and then looked to his sister. "You have Dais' armor?"

"Yeeeeah, but don't worry, I'm not like Dais. I mean, I'm badass, too, but I'm a nicer version." She gave him her normal, quirky smile, which reassured him immediately.

"There is one more thing," Kayura said, holding the orb in two open palms. "Sekhmet's orb reacted when we got here, but I do not know this city. There must be someone who can find its owner."

"So…" Sage picked up the orb, rolling it over in his hand. "You need the Ronin Warrios to help you find this orb's owner, and to help you defeat whoever it is trying to kill you?"

"Essentially, yes."

Sage sighed, running his free hand through his hair. "Could I tell the Ancient One no?" But he was smiling.

9