Obsidian Fires

By Mieren

Ryo sighed as he lowered himself to a seat at the table, dropping his head onto his arms.  It had been two months now.  Sage and Cye had continued to draw in on themselves as the days passed, and neither of them had spoken since the day they had returned from the ruins of the Dynasty.  The Warlords had acquired their own place and only visited every now and then.  They never said much when they stopped by anyway.

Kento saw him sitting at the table and silently joined him, placing one hand on his friend's shoulder.

Sage was torn up from having lost his best friend.  He took long walks through the woods, staring numbly at the trails as though he were in a dream.  Every waking hour that he didn't spend walking was spent in meditation, as though somehow, someway, he could bring back his friend if he thought about it hard enough.

Cye was even worse.  He no longer spoke to anyone nor did he didn't respond to them in the slightest, almost as if he didn't realize that they were there.  He cried himself to sleep almost every night on the nights that he did sleep, often waking within the hour to some nightmare that haunted him.  Kento had found him curled up on the balcony many times, unable to sleep and staring out at the stars, tears streaming down his face as he fingered his long pointed ears.

Sage passed by them as though in a trance, eyes glazed and walking instinctively.  Ryo and Kento watched him go wearily, knowing that there were no words to ease his pain, having tried them all without success.

*     *     *

Mieren lay on her back in the rippling grass, looking to the wispy clouds streaking the deep blue sky with a small smile playing across her face.  Every now and then, she brought up one hand to stroke her stomach gently, face twisting into a disbelieving smile at the large bulk that her fingers encountered.  A soft chuckle brought her out of her contemplation.

"And what do you want, you rat?"

"Heh.  I want to know when you plan on going back for a visit."

"And what makes you think I'm going back?"

"I know you too well, Mieren."

Mieren smirked at the cloaked figure hovering over her, unable to keep from chuckling ruefully at him, knowing full well that he was right.

"It's been quite a while, hasn't it?  I guess I'm going.  Help me up."

She clasped the proffered gloved hand gratefully, pulling herself stiffly to her feet and groaning loudly as she cradled her stomach in her arms.

"How long will it be now?"

"Too long," she muttered irritably, glaring at the cheery face.  Grumbling loudly to herself, she snapped open a gateway and prepared to torment some old friends.

*     *     *

Sage sighed loudly, levering himself off of the ground slowly.  Brushing dust and pine needles off of his clothes slowly, he began his lumbering trip back to the house, knowing full well that it would be getting dark soon.

He was halfway back to the house when something pegged him in the back of the head, causing him to cry out and clutch his stinging scalp.  Growling angrily, he spun to face his attacker.

*     *     *

Mieren smirked at the boy's expression, deciding once again that humans were cute when they were confused.  She repressed the urge to snicker at Sage's furious expression when she realized that he couldn't see her from where she was hiding in the shadows.  She waited for him to turn around before pegging him with another pebble, earning herself a yelp and a furious glower.

Stepping out of the shadows, she half expected the boy to tackle her from the expression on his face.  She almost wondered if she should hide until he cooled off a bit.

Sage finally snapped out of his rage long enough to recognize his tormentor.  Mieren grinned at his incredulous expression, trying not to snicker and failing miserably.

"Mieren?" he breathed, walking forward hesitantly.

Yes? she drawled, delighted by the confusion etched on his face.

He stumbled forward slowly, eyes wide.  Reaching out one shaking hand, he grasped a silky lock of her raven hair, staring at it in wonder before looking at her deep jade eyes.  She noticed his look and made a face.

If you're wondering about my appearance… I, ah, no longer have the armor, she admitted sheepishly.

Sage jerked in surprise.  "I thought you could speak."

Not without the armor, I can't.

"What are you doing here?" he whispered, eyes misting.

Close your eyes if you want to know.

Sage blinked in confusion but complied slowly, jumping slightly when she snagged his wrist.  His brows knotted in confusion when he felt the cloth of her shirt slide along the back of his hand and he swallowed nervously.  He jumped when his hand came into contact with her stomach, fingers trembling on the smooth surface.

Eyes snapping open involuntarily, he looked at Mieren's stomach in wonder, running his fingers gently across the tight skin.

"This is a joke, right?" he stammered, probing her with a thread of energy, jerking back when the baby responded to the power by kicking his hand.

Not a chance.

Sage grinned slowly for the first time in two months, running his hands along the sides of her stomach, his fingers trembling fiercely.

"Who's is it?" he asked in a quavering voice.

Mine, Mieren smirked, grinning widely at his shocked expression.

"That's not what I meant," he mumbled, kneeling and pressing his ear to her stomach only to have his cheek promptly kicked by the baby.

Shall we show the others?

Sage jumped up, smiling widely.  "You're not going to tell me who the father is?"

Mieren made a face, looking at the ground.  Who do you think, idiot?

He grinned wider, for the first time in two months not grimacing at the mention of his friend, and darted down the trail.  Looking back, Sage realized that Mieren was only following at a slow waddle, stomach cradled in her hands.

You could slow down a bit, you inconsiderate airhead.  I'm fat and I can't move very quickly anymore without a good deal of pain.

Sage trotted back to her contritely.  Blushing slightly, he scooped her up into his arms and began a smooth lope down the trail back to Mia's house, ignoring her startled squawk at the treatment.

Reaching the house, Sage lowered her gently to the ground and darted into the house, eyes gleaming.  Mieren followed him slowly, hanging back in the living room as he charged his friends in the kitchen.

"Hey guys!" he called out, eyes shining as he grabbed Kento's arm, shocking the larger boy into utter silence.  Sage tugged his arm forcefully, yanking him out of the chair and pushing him into the living room.

Mieren saw him coming and stuck out her foot, causing the boy to plant his face into the floor.  Ryo was similarly pulled out of his shock as he was sent careening into the room, Mieren helping him into an undignified position on the floor beside Kento.

"Have you lost your ever lovin' mind, Sage?" Kento growled, trying to push himself off of the floor.

"What's going on?" Ryo demanded as he pushed himself to his feet.

It took a few moments for it to register that someone had tripped them when Sage had pushed them into the room.  Looking up in a state of utter shock, Ryo only looked at her for a moment before running upstairs, calling out Mia's name.

He returned in a few seconds, pushing both Mia and Cye in front of him, laughing too hard to answer Mia's furious questions.  They fell silent when they walked into the room.  Sage was grinning wildly and Kento was staring blankly in a state of shock.

Mia gasped when she saw Mieren, running forward to embrace her.  She pulled back suddenly, having noticed how much larger Mieren had gotten.  She was going to ask a few questions but was cut short when Mieren winked and her and put one finger across her lips.

Cye blinked at her numbly, eyes widening in recognition after a moment.  Mieren threw an amused look in his direction before backing a few paces away from the group and lifting her shirt over her stomach dramatically.

Kento choked and went into a fit of coughing, tears streaming from his eyes.  Mia grinned happily, her amusement rivaling Sage's.  Cye staggered forward with a crooked grin on his face and placed one trembling hand on her stomach.  Ryo just took one look at her and fainted, creating a round of snickers through the room.

Men are just too much fun.  Don't you agree, Mia?

It took nearly half an hour to revive Ryo.

When she suggested that it might be nice to eat, Cye and Mia all but raced each other to the kitchen, asking Mieren if there was anything in particular she wanted.

Every now and then, Ryo would lean over and poke Mieren in the stomach, who grinned in amusement at his mystified expression.  After being poked one too many times, she leaned over to him and began poking him on his forehead.

This is what you're doing to my child, she wailed dramatically, following him around the room for a moment when he tried to escape her torment, peals of laughter following them as they raced around wildly.  Mieren quickly stopped her teasing when Mia and Cye announced that the food was ready.

Halfway through dinner, the questioning began.

"You said you no longer had the armor," Sage began slowly.  "What did you do with it?"

I gave it to someone.

Ryo's eyes ignited, but he was cut off before his tirade began.

"How far along are you?" Mia asked, leaning forward slightly.

About three months.

Everyone at the table jerked and looked at her incredulously, Mieren blinking in confusion at their startled stares.

What?

"Um, Mieren," Sage murmured slowly.  "How much longer will it be?"

You say that as though you think I know.

Mia blinked, smiling gently when she noticed Mieren staring at her bulging stomach in a mixture of wonder and disbelief.

"First time to be pregnant?" Mia asked gently.

Yea, that's partially the reason I don't know.  The other would have to be blamed on the father, I believe.  Hell, I didn't even think it was possible for me to bear a child.

Ryo grinned weakly.  "You're staying, right?  At least until the kid is born."

Mieren's head snapped up as she turned to regard him.  I can't stay for long.

Ryo sighed and sent his thoughts directly to her, careful not to let any of the others hear him.  Please, Mieren.  I'm begging you.  It's been months since either Cye or Sage has spoken.  Cye has been catatonic since you and Rowen both vanished, and Sage was almost there himself.  Please, you have to stay.

Careful not to let any expression show on her face, she lowered her head to her chest and closed her eyes, sending her thoughts back to her own dimension.  Ryo watched her carefully, raising his hand warningly when Mia opened her mouth to ask her what she was doing.  Seeing Ryo's stern expression, everyone decided to remain silent.

Emotions raged across Mieren's face too quickly to be identified.  After a moment, she opened her eyes, grinning widely.

Is the invitation still open? she asked slowly, eyes shining.

Mia grinned widely.  "Always."

Can I bring someone from home to stay too?

Mia didn't hesitate before nodding, willing to agree to anything to get Mieren to stay.  She knew full well that the girl had to stay if Cye and Sage were to recover fully.  Only the shock of her appearance had pulled them out of their depression, and she wanted to keep them mentally stable for as long as was possible.

"What's her name?" Kento asked, intrigued.

It's a guy.

The Ronins looked at each other and shrugged.  "What is his name?" Kento corrected, grinning in amusement.

Mieren tensed slightly.  Well… she trailed off, looking around uncertainly.  If you must know, it's Rowen.

"WHAT?!?!"

The unified shriek caused Mieren to wince.  The onslaught of questions cut off abruptly as a flash of deep blue light erupted in the living room.  Everyone stared at Mieren blankly for a moment before a race for the living room began.

Cye was the first to make it into the living room, his elfin agility giving him a distinct advantage over the others.  Making out a cloaked figure in the midst of an inferno of dying blue flames, he let out a joyous cry and darted forward, spilling them both to the floor.  Cye was shoved off gently as Rowen tried to stand, the hood of his cloak falling free of his face as he tried to free himself from his friend's crushing grip.

Barely having freed himself, he was snagged off of the floor with a choked off cry as Sage caught him in a bear hug, nearly crushing his ribs.

"Put me down!" Rowen wailed, squirming fiercely.

Instead of complying with his demand, Sage passed him off to Kento, who decided to show him what a real bear hug was.  Rowen's eyes bulged as he felt his ribs creaking, whimpering slightly as he kicked feebly at his friend.

"Mieren!  Help!" he cried out pitifully.  Mieren only snickered fitfully.

Making a face, Rowen turned surprisingly calm eyes on the boy trying to crush him, tensing the muscles through his arms and back suddenly to break free of his friend's vice-like grip.  Gasping and staggering back, he blanched when Ryo charged him.

With a whimper, Rowen shot towards the ceiling.  Hovering inches below the beautiful fifteen-foot ceiling, he made a face at the people below him.

"I'm not coming down until you agree not to squish me into an unidentifiable quivering mass," he called down, smirking at their shocked expressions.

"How did you do that?" Ryo called, grinning.

"You learn some interesting things in Mieren's dimension," he snorted.

Don't make me come up there, Mieren called, snickering softly.

Cye floated up towards his friend, arms crossed across his chest defiantly.  Rowen blanched and shot to the far end of the room.  "No fair!" he wailed loudly.

"Come down.  We won't squish you," Kento agreed, eyes dancing as he looked up at a friend he never thought he'd see again.

Frowning uncertainly, Rowen lowered himself to the floor just outside the door leading to the kitchen, looking at it as a possible escape route, squawking when White Blaze moved into the doorway and eliminated the possibility.

"And you wondered why Mieren was hungry when she arrived," Sage taunted, eyes misting.  "Rowen's been cooking for her."

"No way," Ryo said in an unsteady voice.  "She'd be dead if he had."

Rowen made a pouting face at them, brightening when Mieren wrapped one arm around him.  His lips curved upwards slowly.

"What happened, man?" Cye asked, walking over to hug his friend, gently lest he terrify him again.

Rowen paled quickly, staring hard at the floor.  "They have ways of reviving people that have died.  I'd rather not talk about it," he whispered, closing his eyes and refusing to look up from the floor.

Staring hard at the angle of the light shining in through the open window, he made a face and excused himself, mumbling something about being tired before retreating to his room.  Mieren glared at everyone remaining in the room angrily.

That's a touchy subject.  I don't want any of you to bring it up for any reason, she snapped, storming up the stairs after Rowen.

Cye blanched and stared at the floor guiltily.  "I think I should apologize," he murmured.  "I seem to keep causing him problems, after all."

Before anyone could say anything, he darted up the stairs after his friends.  Reaching the top, he paused outside the door to Rowen and Sage's room, blinking in shock when he heard the archaic language coming from the room.

"Rowen, please don't leave now.  You told me that you'd stay only minutes ago."

"You know I didn't want to come back, Mieren.  I don't want them to know."

"They won't care, love.  You didn't hold it against them after what happened in the tunnels or after what I did.  Why should they do any differently?"

"This is different, Mieren," Rowen whimpered, breathing heavily.

"They won't care!  Rowen, love, please don't leave," Mieren whispered raggedly.

Cye staggered back silently, eyes wide and ears quivering fiercely.  Making as little noise as possible, he darted down the stairs, skidding to a halt in the living room.

"Cye?" Kento asked softly.  "What's wrong?"

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Cye repeated the bit of conversation he had heard.  A stunned silence greeted him when he finished.

"Good God," Ryo whispered.  "What did they have to do to revive him?"

Cye shook his head.  "I don't know.  I don't recognize it, whatever it is.  I don't think that we should let on that we know either.  It'll only upset him."

Nods of agreement passed around the room quickly.  They had barely settled into inconspicuous positions before Mieren came back in, glancing at them carefully.

He's asleep, and if you value your health, you won't bother him.  Nods circulated around the room as she glared at them angrily, sniffing in satisfaction when they all gave in.  Question.  Where should I sleep tonight?

"Why not with Rowen?" Sage asked, almost certain he had been evicted to the couch again.

Won't work.  There's only one bed in there, and ever since I started gaining weight, I began thrashing in my sleep.  I don't want to pound him into oblivion.

"Sage could stay in my room, and you could have the couch," Ryo suggested.

Mieren nodded and seated herself comfortably in the reclining chair, only halfheartedly getting into the conversation they began.  She occasionally looked to the ceiling worriedly.  Her glances did not go unnoticed by the others in the room.