Chapter six

Two weeks later Chrissy Jace, and john have been working with their armors moving in them and getting training from the warlords and the Ronins. Jace had mastered the gurasami quickly mainly because Chelsie and Radile had begun to like him as a baby sitter and Kayura was always using him as one. John was struggling with the no-Dachi and was bugging Cale and sage for all the help he could get. He did not even bother to ask Kat after he ticked her off the last time. Chrissy was spending a lot of time training with Ryo. She was great with one sword in her hand but two she was clumsy and not cordinated and her swords always clashed together to block or attack. She was glad though to have Whitestorm so that she could do her training completely. Snickers also helped as well. They were cleaning up the house and had managed to get a few rooms painted and Chrissy was training with snickers

"Come on snickers! You could do better than that!" Chrissy said to the dog, Snickers races around Chrissy looking for an opening in her defense, but Chrissy faces him each time he finds one. He lunges and Chrissy side steps it and softly kicks him with her bare foot. He jumps up to get her but Chrissy pushes him to the side. He charges and Chrissy fillips over him and grabs his tail to scoot him back. Snickers, exhausted, lays down panting giving up trying to play anymore.

You are such a wimp you know that" she said he rolled over on his back, his tail wagging like a fan as she scratched him, petting him and giving him a kiss on his wet nose. "You did a good job though, besides you have no ambush sites here. You don't have the advantage you used to have at home.

"Hey Chrissy! Do you want to see the house so far?" Kento called out from a window. The Ronins were helping with the painting of the upper rooms that were going to be occupied, Chrissy wanted to make sure that the rooms were colorful enough to make the big place cheerful.

"Sure! I'll come up if there is any air left up there." Chrissy went inside and up the stairs noticing that hey had plastic sheets over the painted walls. Chrissy was suspicious as they all were trying not to grin but doing a poor job at it

"What's going on you guys?" she asked they just grabbed both her arms and dragged her to the master bedroom.

"What! I don't…" she tried to yell to them but before she could struggle out of Kento and Rayne's grip, she got a bucket full of paint on the front of her. Luckily, for them, she was in work clothes.

"We thought that since your not helping that we would get you in the mood" Ryo said Chrissy was covered in the red, which matched the color of her mood, she wanted revenge.

"So getting me painted is going to help you huh? Well, its going to help me!" she ran towards them trying to hug them and in the process got Kat, sage, Rayne and Rowen. She got a bucket full of paint and got Ryo completely covered in white. He in turn splashes her with blue and Jace popped in a got them both in green. Chrissy and Ryo looked at him and then at each other.

"Allies?" Chrissy asked Ryo responded with a grin and they all had a paint war, until John came in with his paint ball gun and gave everyone bruises

"I know you're used to being hit with those things, but I'm not, John!" everyone seemed to say very crossly.

"We better get cleaned up or we may say this color," Everyone agreed to that, Emilly and Cye, who had ditched the paint war when it started, went to get towels and hoses to clean up. Chrissy however got a different way of cleaning up and sneaked into a closet that she stored a water gun there.

"I have to thank John for giving me this for my birthday again" when Whitestorm came in the room wondering what took her so long and saw the squirt gun. She ran into the forest at full speed climbing a tree that she had already clamed as her own

"What's with Storm?" Ryo asked right when a stream of water hit the back of his head. Ryo spun around and got another stream in his face. What the… what's going on?" defending himself with his arms

"Another fight, but this time one to get clean with." Chrissy declared, everyone was then grabbing hoses and buckets and having a great time, that and getting the paint off. Chrissy grabbed some sheets that were supposed to help cover items from the paint and they all dried out as best they could since the towles cye and Em brought were soaked. They cleaned up the paint mess, touching up where the plastic sheets were moved and paint of a different color got through. Finally, they went outside to relax and to dry what little water was still on them. They were far away from the house, avoiding the fumes, and settled by the small lake and relaxing.

"This is the life, don't cha think" Chrissy laughed. Everyone was watching as Whitestorm, snickers and Whiteblaze were playing around. Snickers was chasing Whitestorm who had stole his bone and Whiteblaze looked like he would pounce on either one the next time they came around.

"Ya, its really relaxing" Ryo smiled, he had grown fond of Chrissy. She didn't know a lot about using swords in combat and so Ryo was the natural choice to help her learn having the same type of weapon. John had plenty of people to learn and Jace had already mastered his being the quick study that he was.

"Hey Ryo?" Chrissy asked getting an idea

"What's up?" he then laughed afterward seeing snickers tumbled trying to stop and turn at once to catch Whitestorm.

"Why don't we spar? Not with the katanas, but just hand to hand" Ryo looked at her to see if she was joking, but she looked sincere. Ryo laid his head back

"I don't know, I guess so, but you have to tell me whenever you want to quit," Chrissy nodded happily I really don't know, she hasn't had a lot of experience with hand to hand as I do, I better be careful not to hurt her. They warned the others and made sure the animals didn't get in there way, sage was nominated judge and the others watched.

"Positions" Sage called out, Chrissy spread her legs giving her a strong base; she then had her hands as claws. "Ready" sage had grabbed a rag as a flag and both Chrissy and Ryo smiled at each other. "GO!" he dropped the flags and Chrissy went first for the stomach. Ryo, knowing that she just made the frequent mistake of beginners, grabbed her leg and was going to flip her, but she came in and threw his balance off making him hit the ground.

Interesting. He got into position again. This time Ryo attacked with a kick of his own, Chrissy on the other hand dropped and swept her feet to knock him off his one foot on the ground. Once again, he dropped to the ground

She's faster than I thought she let him up once again. This time Ryo used punches. She wasn't as fast as with her blocks, of course they both were doing punches, but Ryo was by far faster. She accidentally, or so it had seemed to everyone, stepped on Ryos toes. Ryo in automatic response lifted his foot. She then gave him a hard punch that caused him to step back. She then again tried to get him on the ground but it didn't work

She obviously likes to get her opponent's on the ground to disable them. He tried to respond with a kick but before he could even move his leg she flipped out of his way. Ryo stopped when he realized what he was going to do. I was about ready to kick her head in; I didn't even think about it, it was just a response he was standing there dumbfounded

"Are you ok Ryo?" Chrissy asked

"Ya" he said after a moment "lets call it a draw," Ryo was worried

"Your forfeiting?" Chrissy smiled "Then so I win"

"Ya, ya, I'm only letting you win because you're a girl" Ryo joked half heartedly and the guys in the group laughed

"Sure that's all Ryo?" Rowen called out teasingly. Ryo rolled his eyes at the guys and Ryo was surprised by Chrissy putting her hand on his shoulder

"Don't worry Ryo, I understand, I would have been dead if you used all of your skills" she then went to Whitestorm who was waiting with patience. For Ryo what she said confirmed what he had thought and he was afraid of that.

All of us, the originals, all we really know how to do is to seriously injure people. Are we losing ourselves every time we kill in battle? Ryo shook it off to think about latter it was too much to think about, besides if he dident fight the deamons would get more of a foot hold than the world could afford. Meanwhile they would have to help put in furniture, except for Cye and Chrissy. They were taking measurements and planning the kitchens remodel. The house would still be empty especially in a lot of the rooms and Chrissy did not wasn't to bet too distracted by the hidden room just yet. Chrissy wanted to focus on the rooms that were going to be occupied first. They wanted all the furniture for the downstairs done and tomorrow the would focus on upstairs since the fumes would make them to dizzy to work

"I still can't believe that this place is all mine Cye" Chrissy said in a tired voice "It's a lot more work than I first thought. When I read Kameo's letter I thought it was all ready to move into" she sighed as they worked the details out

Finally they got every piece of furniture set the way it was supposed to be, with the help of melody. And the kitchen was put on hold till they could talk to contractors. They all plopped around in the parlor feeling very exhausted. Chrissy was drifting to sleep on Ryo's shoulder, which was also joining her in sleep

"Is it ready?" a deep dark voice rumbled in the chamber. A cat like creature nodded to the question "And what of Talpa?" it asked again the dark shadowy hand tapped on the arm of the chair. An elegant woman stepped out of the darkness behind the cat creature

"He is busy gathering his strength once again, he shouldn't have attacked those weaklings so soon," she said her eyes flaring up with red then once again back to its eerie green

"And my Arnthick?" it asked with a voice that dared someone to make him mad. A dashing man appeared beside the women that made her eyes go light green

"My lord he is unfortunately still fallowing Talpa, but he is battling his opposite. Not everything is lost," the man said bowing respectively and giving a slight smile to the women who stood quietly beside the dark being. The being sighed and tapped his claws once again before clenching them in fists

"As long as he is battling her I won't interfere with there will." His hands clenched as a memory crossed the beast like face "Curse you, Curse you for what you've done!" he roared in a wild howl that sent everyone disappearing quickly. All except the women in the dark, who merely walked away.

"Chrissy come on, your hurting my back" Ryo complained to Chrissy

"But I'm not asleep yet" she mumbled frowning and then yawned

"Well get up, we got make-up school today anyways so get up." He explained she grumbled.

"Sometimes I wish Kayura didn't find my armor, then I wouldn't have to ditch to take care of measly demons" she yawned again" and I would get some decent sleep" she shook her head trying to keep herself awake. Whitestorm starts licking her face, and Chrissy attempts to scratch her. Whitestorm then touches her nose on Chrissy neck and Chrissy giggles and protects her neck from the cold nose

"No fair, you know I'm ticklish," she complains sleepily to Whitestorm. Ryo glances at Chrissy as she try's to go to sleep once again and everyone had already dragged there way to the cars. Whitestorm gives up, glances at Ryo and then lies back on her bed.

Well this is my chance to get back at her for defeating me earlier Ryo starts tickling her and Chrissy is shocked and giggles trying to defend herself. But Ryo moves from one tickle spot to another until Chrissy giggles and laughs so much that she turns bright red. Everyone that was outside peaked inside wondering what was going on, he finally stops and she responds with a teasing kick

"I'm going to get you for that" she said still giggling, Ryo just laughs and winks

"Sure Chrissy" he said she sighs and holds her sides trying to calm herself

"Lets get going" she said a smile still on her face

"At least I know you trust me" he said as he walked towards the door

"What? Or curse I trust you" she was confused

"Your only ticklish if you trust that person" Ryo explained

"Oh," she was furthered confused but shook it from her mind "We better get going before Jace has snickers herd us like sheep" she joked smiling Ryo also smiles and they get into Kento and sages cars

"Having a little bit of fun aren't ya" Kento joked. Ryo gave him a glare.

"If it wasn't for you being the only one who can drive this pile of bolts, I would pound you," Ryo said still glaring

"Ya, well, this pile of bolts hasn't let us down all this year" Kento boasted

"Yes it has" Cye said from the back

"The year, year. Not the school year" he tried to clarify

"Kento either way it has broken down before" Rayne added. Ryo laughed as Kento was pausing to think about it and growled when he saw that they were right

"Come on Kento, we are cleaning the library. And that's at the back of the school"

"Ya, ya, I'm going, I'm going. She just needs a little time" the car was having trouble turning over.

"Ya," Kat said getting out of Sage's car "You sure you don't want us to push you there?" just as she finished it came to life

"Nope, like I said, she just needed a bit of time" he patted the dashboard and Kat rolled her eyes and got back into sages car. They rolled down to the gate and Whitestorm, Whiteblaze and snickers called out their goodbyes as they sped off.

The school was quite a distance away from Chrissy's house. There was another closer, but Chrissy was still technically living at the apartment. They arrived at the school and they all had to run to the library where the teacher was already writing down name for attendance and handing out dusting rags, and assigning sections. The library was huge and was used both by the high school and by a university across the street. Chrissy felt a little funny when she arrived at the school but she ignored it. They all donned the aprons and hats to keep their clothes somewhat clean. Chrissy was putting on hers when she remembered the ancient books that she saw on the first day. They all had somehow forgotten them all. She motioned to the others to come near her

"What's wrong?" Ryo asked

"Remember the book I had the first day? We can check them out"

"Oh ya, I forgot about that"

"Me as well, Mia's probably done with the first one" Cye said in agreement but sage shook his head

"No, she's been busy, but your right, we need to check them out. Mia can transfer them to her university but we got to get them" sage looked at the teacher who was still handing out rags and aprons. They fallowed Chrissy towards the books when they found them she passed them to the others until the shelf was empty.

"After all the times I've been here, I don't think I have ever been to this section," Rowen said glancing at the other books that were around. Melody nodded in agreement

"I was just lucky I guess" Chrissy shrugged not really knowing what to say. Suddenly there were screams echoing inside the library. They ran past the few people that were huddled among the bookshelves. They ran outside and nearly dropped the books in horror. Dynasty soldiers were all over the school, however the colors of the armors were maroon instead of green. The soldiers instantly looked at the Ronins. In response they summoned their armors. Ryo, Chrissy, Kento, Cye, Kat, and melody armored up as the others blocked the attacks. Then sage, Emilly, Jace, John, Rowen, and Rayne were able to armor up

"We got to get everyone out! Sage yelled while blocking an attack

"But how, they are everywhere, its worse than when we were at the dynasty's castle" Rowen called out. The maroon solders differed not only in their color, but their strength as well.

"Chrissy, Kat, we'll clear a path. You get the people inside" John yelled swinging his No-Dachi

"Alright" she finished off the soldiers she was battling and ran inside dogging soldiers trying to prevent her. She stopped short when she heard that screams were inside as well. She rushed to the nearest scream and saw the teacher who had issued the rags was cut and bleeding. She and Kat dragged or let all that were inside to an open area. Every one of them was shaken and yells from the others to hurry up were constant. Chrissy was searching for anyone else when she head and angry growl and the breaking of wood. She ran towards the source and stopped short amazed. A tiger, which was standing like a human, was destroying the shelves where the ancient one's book were. Its ears perked turned and smiled at her as it was engulfed in darkness. She picked up the poor guy who had apparently found his misforchion with the creature and brought him to the open area.

"Sage! We need your help, Kat can't heal them anymore!" she yelled as she went outside to get him

"What! We got injured? But how, they didn't get inside!" Sage called back the dynasty goons weren't around. Neither were the shells of armor.

"What happened to the goons?" she asked confused

"They disappeared into this black mass," Ryo said shrugging

The same thing that happened with that creature Chrissy thought

"Man," Kento said sitting down "I sure wish I knew what was going on. They aren't Talpa's goons, there green. And these were red!" he scratched his head. Chrissy looked at the damage that was done to the school and it was practically in ruins

"It can't be Talpa." Rowen thought out loud "He requires human lives to create suffering. He lives off of human suffering and pain. He wouldn't just kill them outright unless they wee a threat to him" Rowen replied

"We have to see if they did this elsewhere" Cye sated "We have to make sure this isn't happening again!"

"Sage will stay here to heal the people that he can while Kat recuperates and Cye you stand guard and do what you can" Ryo started to say

"I'll try my best" Cye said rushing in to do what he could

"The rest of us will split up in two's we'll call up Ross and tell him what's happening to join in. We meet back at the mountain" with that they went off its too soon for Sabrano, it just couldn't be him Ryo shook his head, confused and somewhat scared

"My Pet, you have returned early. Did you retrieve the books?" the being enshrouded in darkness asked as the cat creature materialized before him she started to cower and shake

"M..M…My lord, I couldn't! The Warriors of Anth…" she was cut off

"WHAT! You couldn't get them" it stood up, outraged and the flames around him brightened and the chill of the room deepened

"Her Arnthick was there!" the creature cried out in its defense "I couldn't risk it!" she paused for a second then remembering what look she gave her "But my master, I could tell that she hasn't been to a true battle, her face was blanched at my work" it smiled at its small accomplishment. The fires dimmed down and the bite of the cold wasn't as bad as it sat down pondering

"That information is valuable," the creature smiled humbled by his words "But," he resumed threatening, "The next time you fail me, will be your last" the creature was horrified and whimpered and shook "Go to your room, you will be called upon another time." The creature scampered out of the hall with full speed the women that stood next to the being glanced at it with passing interest and returned her attention to her lord who was muttering under his breath

"Don't think that this little victory of yours is going to get you anywhere, my love" he chuckled to himself, "She still doesn't know what se is doing, or how she is supposed to do it." He paused for a second looking at the women beside him "On the other hand, neither does he," he glances at an image after seeing no response in the woman's face "but then again he is more resourceful" he thinks for a moment then smiles as he gets an idea "My dear Luca" he said "I do believe its time I reminded Talpa why he should be scared of me" he then started laughing.