Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Ronin Warriors except the plot and the characters you do not recognize. An/Elayne belongs to LegendsGuardian (LG).
Note: Yes, this is a newly revised edition of Until the Fall. I've decided instead of replacing the chapters, I'll just re-upload it. The original Until the Fall, My Dear will remain up, unless I find it fitting to remove it. The entire story has changed with some major plot points remaining the same. Updates will be sporadic as I'm busy revising my original novel and currently looking for employment that may take up my time. Thank you for taking your time to read this and hopefully you enjoy. If you do enjoy, please leave a review!
Prologue
"Will we be okay?" The tiny girl with dark pigtails whispered to her dark haired companion. Crystal blue eyes met her violet ones with some annoyance.
"Tsk, you're always worrying." The boy said, taking a stick from the ground at his feet and thrusting it out like a sword. He made slashing noises with his mouth and motioned like a skilled warrior. He stopped, mopping sweat from his brow. "It's really hot."
The little girl by this time was sitting on a large rock set by a tree with a thick trunk. She toyed with her pigtails in what only could be her own amusement without so much as looking at the boy.
Frowning, the boy walked up to the girl, "An! You're supposed to be impressed!"
"How can I be impressed if you're swinging that stick around like an idiot?"
"That's not nice!" The boy said, pointing the said-stick toward her.
"Who said I had to be nice!" An said indignantly.
The boy paused a moment, gave a light huff and went back to his mock-fighting. "You know I'll have to leave soon, right, Ryo?"
Ryo's stick flew from his grasp as he whirled around, shock covering most of his features. "What do you mean, you're leaving soon?"
"I thought Gran told you already."
"No…she didn't." Ryo picked up the stick with a frown. "I thought you said you were here for the rest of the summer."
"I have to go back…but I'll be back for the next summer!" An said eagerly. "I have to go to school." Her nose scrunched up in trepidation. "I have to go to a private school this time." Her violet eyes rolled back into her head, before they stared back at Ryo who was still deeply frowning. "Are you upset?"
"Pfft, no. Who would be upset that you're going away. Less annoyance around here." Ryo stopped in his tracks after seeing An turn away with tears glistening in her eyes. "I'm kidding! I love your annoyance!"
"Liar, you're happy I'm going to be away from you." Wiping her eyes, she turned her back on him.
Putting down the stick, Ryo hopped on the rock and sat beside her. He gently nudged her with his shoulder and said, "I'm not happy you're going away. I swear it." He put his hand up.
An didn't bother looking at him, avoiding his concerned glances. After a while, right before Ryo was about to move, An said, "Ryo, I'm scared…"
"Are you having nightmares again?" Ryo eyed the young girl again who seemed so much smaller than what she put on. He always forgot just how young she really was when she spoke and carried herself well.
"Yes, and they're getting scarier. More real." She took his hand before he could move and squeezed.
"I hope they subside again, An. You do look more tired." He patted her hand.
"They won't this time, Ryo…I don't think these are nightmares anymore…" She said hesitantly. "I think the world truly will—"
Ryo shot up in a sitting position, his palms digging into his eyes. He let out an audible groan, wiping sweat from his forehead. He got out of bed, walked to the bathroom and splashed cold water on his face. Wiping his face, he heard the grumble of White Blaze from the other side of the bed. "Sorry boy, didn't mean to wake you. Just had another dream about An."
Upon hearing the name, White Blaze let out a low grunt as he stretched and padded over toward Ryo. He brushed against the young man's legs and let out another grunt. "I'm fine. Just—just need to settle my nerves down for a moment."
Ryo looked at himself in the mirror. Underneath his eyes he had purple bags due to lack of sleep the last few weeks. It really felt he was running on empty. "This hast to mean something if I keep on having the same dream over and over."
Ryo made his way back into the room with White Blaze at his heels. Upon entering the room, Ryo noticed something he hadn't seen before. The voicemail on his house phone lit up with the number one. "How did I miss that one?" he pressed the play button.
His heart skipped a beat when he heard the voice he hadn't heard in three years.
"Hi," Her breathy voice faltered a little, almost drowned out by the static that popped and crackled from possibly an old payphone. "Ryo…it's been a while. Let's meet up where we used to." Another crackle. "We're long overdue for a talk." The beep signaled the end of the message.
Ryo sucked in a breath and sat down at the edge of his bed. "What the hell, An…"