Another's Note: Hello and sorry for being gone so long. I've been super busy in real life, and I'm trying very hard to catch up on my writing. Hopefully summer will let me do just that.
Disclaimer: I don't own either the Winx Club or Ronin Warriors
Warning: Rating of this fic is set at M for potential adult topics later.
Chapter 1) Open Chat
Set during Chapter 32
It still amazed Tecna how relaxed she felt now, talking with Rajura, Ryo, Shin and Musa. It wasn't that they made her comfortable, but the people who were now daring to walk up to them and introduce themselves or ask question of the three men. Galatea, and a few fairies had come over to speak with them. Tecna had lost part of the conversation to her own thoughts but watching the reaction of Galatea and the other fairies as they talked, seeing them smile back at the smiles of Shin, Ryo and Rajura was nice.
"Thank you for speaking with us." Galatea said sweetly.
"Hey no problem." Ryo shrugged as he swirled his drink.
"It was quite beneficial, and your curiosity over our foe is understandable." Rajura spoke and Shin chuckled.
"What they mean is feel free to talk with us any time. We enjoyed it, and don't mind your questions at all." Shin said his typical warm smile lighting up his face.
"Well I do have one more question than." A younger fairy with silver hair said. She was the quietest of the girls there and looked the most timid.
"Shoot." Ryo said before taking a sip of his drink. Tecna watched Ryo's calm demeanor the warm confidence, and caring that exuded from him. His blue eyes were soft yet fierce, and made her recall the time they fought Icy side by side. She'd been so scared and he'd been so calm but certain when he reassured her that she was fine.
"Well why hasn't anyone heard about you if you fought these people before. I mean not even the earth fairies knew you really existed." The young fairy asked there was no accusation in her tone just curiosity.
"That's because when the dynasty captured everyone in Japan the first time, they didn't remember their capture or the assault that the dynasty made. The second time we fought them we went into the dynasty. It's probably for the best that we went unknown, since I wouldn't want to be remember at the cost of having them remember the torture and pain the dynasty put them through." Ryo elaborate.
"Indeed the towers in the dynasty collect power from anguish… It isn't a pleasant idea but it is the truth and why the dynasty's strength can't be underestimated." Rajura said and both Ryo and Shin nodded.
"That's horrible." Galatea breathed the stun look on the fairies face told Tecna that no one had conveyed the magnitude of the Dynasty's threat to them.
"It is, that's why the the Ancients and us have worked to protect earth from the Dynasty." Shin smiled.
"Thank you for answering but I have one more question. Do… Do you have a girlfriend?" The young fairy asked leaving the Tecna quite shocked. She must have made some sort of sound because Rajura glanced at her, but she was too busy waiting for Ryo's answer to explain her self. Sure they'd stayed with the ronin for a few months but they'd never asked them about their dating life.
"At the moment no, and I can't say I'm really looking right now either. I know the dynasty is a threat and right now the most important thing is defeating them as well as convince the people here we can help. It just wouldn't be fair to anyone." Ryo answered with a shrug, and while the girl's smile faded she gave an understanding nod. The group of fairies finally left and Tecna let go the breath she'd been holding.
"Wow you're good at turning people down gently." Musa stated and Ryo frowned.
"It's something we've all had a lot of practice at. Its not fair to endanger someone else because we may like them. The dynasty is a constant threat, and we've faced other foes too." Shin explained. "It's always on our minds, what would happen if the dynasty targeted someone we loved, what would happen if they learned about the armors and the dynasty."
"Shin's right. The last girl I fell for was in New York. It was the same trip as the picture you saw on our mantle. Her brother had been killed and she mistook Touma for the killer. She ended up learning about the armors and our strength…. She followed us into a dangerous situation to avenge her brother and was gravely wounded… She died." Ryo said the words heavy in his throat and still difficult to get out. He'd never forget her, or holding her while she died.
Tecna couldn't help but reach out to Ryo and place her hand on his arm. She could tell from the slump in his shoulder Ryo felt responsible for the death of this girl. If Tecna remembered correctly it now meant the Ronin had seen the death of at least three people who allied with them. She knew losing one person was hard, and she understood exactly why Ryo was politely declining the young women now. She'd been so wrapped up in her own fears of being hurt again that she couldn't see that the leader of the ronin held the same fear. It made her want to know more, to ask if it was the death or something else. As Musa took the attention of Shin and Rajura left to go grab a drink Tecna reached out and tapped Ryo's shoulder gently.
"Ryo I was wondering if maybe I could ask you some questions." Tecna said her gaze falling to the side as Ryo turned to look at her. She didn't want to pull open old wounds but she was very curious about why Ryo was as guard. While there were things she knew about him, Tecna was realizing that there was a lot she didn't know.
"Sure, what's your question?" Ryo smiled easily as they wandered over to a clear space away from the crowds. It was quieter away from the cowards and there was room to lean against the walls.
"I was wondering if there wasn't more that you weren't saying." Tecna started unsure of how to word her question. "What I mean is, I never looked at you or your friends as guarded but the answer you told-" Tecna hadn't been able to look at Ryo while she rambled so the touch of his hand on her arm stopped her.
"It's okay." Ryo said. "You are right, we are guarded. It may not have been noticed because friends we tend to follow Shin's lead with trusting people. Even then I know you've noticed, maybe just not realized. Seiji with his silence, Anubis his scowl, Rajura's always just polite, and Touma is off in his books." Ryo pointed out and Tecna nodded.
"What about you then. I thought you were as opened as Shin but are you guarded too? Do you really trust us?" Tecna asked and Ryo laughed.
"Of course I trust you, and so does everyone else." Ryo said.
"But you keep secrets, or things have been shared to some of us but not everyone." Tecna said thinking on how Flora seemed to know more about Seiji than any of them did with any other guy.
"If you have a question just ask, I would answer it you know." Ryo said easily and Tecna looked at him. "I'm not as good as Shin at knowing what people are wondering about. I don't have his empathy, or Touma's observation. I can just be honest when questions are asked."
"Than are you guarded? If Shin hadn't told you to trust us would you have been guarded?" Tecna asked and Ryo watched her with calm eyes.
"I still would have trusted you… but I wouldn't have stop Seiji, or Anubis from telling you to stay out of the mess with the dynasty. It's not that I don't trust people, it's that every time I meet someone knew I wonder, are they going to lose their life if they learn about the armors? Will it be one more person I am responsible for the death of? I want to protect everyone the best I can and sometimes that means I don't let them get close." Ryo explained and Tecna looked away. Ryo still smiled as he placed a hand on Tecna's shoulder waiting till she met his gaze again. "It's okay though, I know none of us are going to let anything happen to anyone here." Ryo said and Tecna found herself weakly returning his warm smile.
Tecna looked down towards her hands understanding fully Ryo's fear, his hesitation because in away it was hers too. The foundations were the same but the reason that caused this fear were very different. She almost felt childish for such an extreme difference in reason but she knew the logic was sound. Whether a person died, or left you with a broken heart it is a pain that goes deep and it was only the natural reaction to try and prevent pain again.
"Still I try to let people in, to get close to them. I just have to protect them better." Ryo said and Tecna lifted her gaze to him.
"How can you be so certain on that? That the pain was worth it?" Tecna asked and Ryo smiled warmly at her.
"Because when I do, I end up with friends like you, Stella and the rest of your friends. Its hard to let people in close because I don't want you to get hurt but I'm glad I did, and I'm glad I do even if I need a push now and then." Ryo stated and Tecna returned his smile. He was right there, she was very glad for his friendship, for Shin, Shu and Rajura. Even now she was still getting to know the others and she was glad for it.
"Maybe you are right… But I think I will wait to give my full analysis." Tecna smiled and Ryo laughed. His laugh warmed her, and she felt far better than when the night began.The sound of approaching footsteps had both of them turning their heads to see Shin and Musa coming back their way. Shin wiping off his hand and dabbing the sleeve of his suit coat. Seeing poor Shin dabbing up the liquid drew a chuckle from Tecna and Ryo.
"Did you loose the ladle to serve yourself?" Ryo asked in gest.
"No, just knocked into someone." Shin smiled and Musa flushed. "Though I guess we learned balancing punch and dancing is above what I can do."
"Go figure you can't do that but you can save the world." Tecna commented and Shin blinked at her owlishly. Her comment caught him by surprise but it wasn't long before Shin, and Ryo were laughing and Musa and herself were smiling again. Yes maybe meeting the ronin was one of the best things that happened to her, second only to meeting the winx.