Chapter 1 - 3 years after the defeat of Talpa...
Stepping into the human world, Lord Kuro glances around. Human in appearance, he was tall and dressed in black armor, with black and white hair flowing down over his shoulders. He willingly joined Lord Talpa many years ago, not long before Talpa attacked the mortal world the first time and was banished by the Ancient. Kuro stood by Talpa's side when Talpa recruited Anubis, Dais, Sekhmet, and Cale. Kuro knew, unlike the Warlords, that Talpa was more interested in their armor than the men. But when the time came for Talpa to take over over the human world, he was not at his lord's side. Instead, Talpa had trusted him to take over another world, in Talpa's name. Following defeat of Talpa, Kuro had vowed vengeance against the young heroes and the traitorous Warlords. Stepping through the portal, Kuro waits for his warlords to step through.
The first through is Aka, dressed in blood red armor. Like his lord, Aka does not wear a helmet, so his dark red hair gleams in the early morning light. Though not as tall as his lord, Aka is taller than most human men. Following Aka is Kasshoku, Kuro's other Warlord. Dressed in brown, he also does not wear a helmet, but, unlike Lord Kuro and Aka, Kasshoku is bald.
"Are the Ronins here, my lord?" asks Aka, glancing around the world he has stepped into with contempt.
"Yes," replies Kuro, studying the mortal world he and his Warlords have entered.
"What is your plan, my lord?" asks Kasshoku, focusing all his attention on his lord.
'We will destroy the Ronins," replies Kuro.
"What of the traitors?" demands Aka.
"We will deal with them, also," replies Kuro, with a smile.
…...
In the Nether Realm, Cale, Dais, and Sekhmet are called to the audience chamber. Entering the room, they give a short bow to Lady Kayura, ruler of the Nether Realm. It wasn't all that long ago, that the three men would have bowed to someone else.
During the reign of Talpa, these three men, in addition to Anubis, served Talpa. Dais, a one eyed man with long white hair, was known as the Warlord of Illusion and enjoyed using traps to ensnare the Ronins. Sekhmet, the Warlord of Venom, with his short green hair, relished playing deadly games with the Ronins. Lastly, Cale, with his short blue hair, was known as the Warlord of Corruption and became the leader of the Warlords, until Kayura's return, after Anubis deflected. Toward the end of Talpa's rule, the three remaining Warlords realized that Talpa was just using them and joined with the Ronins to defeat the evil lord.
"Kayura?" asks Dais, the eldest of the three men. "You summoned us."
"Yes," she replies, glances between the Warlords. "Kuro, Aka, Kasshoku have entered the mortal world. We will leave shortly, contact the Ronins, and arrest the criminals."
"Contact the Ronins?" asks Cale, looking almost nervous as he glances between the two Warlords.
"Is that a problem?" demands Lady Kayura, glancing between the Warlords.
"Not a problem," answers Sekhmet, without looking at Cale.
Smiling gently, Lady Kayura steps forward and places a hand on Cale's arm. "You have changed, Cale. You are no longer under the spell of Talpa."
Nodding his head, Cale again glances between Sekhmet and Dais. Noting that the other men are not looking at him, Cale decides to not mention his concerns with interacting with the Ronins.
"The Ronins guard the Mortal Realm. Even if they do not assist us, and I believe they will, it is our duty to let them know we will be in their realm. We will depart shortly. Finish anything that cannot wait," says Kayura, as she turns away.
Giving a short bow, all three Warlords turn and exit the chamber. As soon as the chamber doors close, Dais and Sekhmet turn to Cale.
"Are you mad?" demands Sekhmet, grabbing Cale's left arm; the same arm that Lady Kayura had laid a gentle hand on.
"Not mad," returns the blue haired man, jerking his arm away.
"Do you want Kayura to know?" hisses Sekhmet.
"What if the Ronins know?" returns Cale. "To say that they will not be happy would be putting it mildly."
"I don't believe the Ronins know," replies Dais, placing palms out to both men and attempting to calm the situation before it can escalate. "I do not see them taking it lightly, if they knew what happened during those final days. They would have petitioned Kayura for our heads."
"What about Wildfire?" demands Cale. "He would not have forgotten."
"We were under the spell of Talpa," says Sekhmet.
"This is not the place to be having this conversation," says Dais, glancing around.
"This conversation needs to happen, Dais," replies Cale, also glancing around.
Scanning the area once more, Dais signals the other two men to follow him. Down one hall than another, turning left than right before stopping at a door. Glancing around once more, Dais opens the door to his bed chamber.
"Enter," says the white haired man, before stepping into his room. Quickly the other two men follow.
"Shortly, we will need to interact with the Ronins," says Dais, as soon as Sekhmet shuts the door. "As I have already said, the Ronins do not know otherwise Kayura would know and therefore we would know."
"Do you have a plan?" asks Cale.
"I will say again, we were under Talpa's spell," says Sekhmet.
"That will be cold comfort to Wildfire. 'Sorry we brutally raped you, Wildfire, but we were only doing Talpa's command'," sneers Cale.
"If we have a moment to speak with Wildfire, away from others, we will. I don't expect the boy to make a scene," say Dais, stepping between the two men. "Otherwise, we will say nothing. Agreed?"
"Yes," replies Sekhmet, than he turns to look at Cale.
"...yes," replies Cale, after a moment's hesitation.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Please let me know what you think...