Chapter 10

In The Sea of the Sky

Space, the Final Frontier...these are the crazy-ass things Rowen goes on and on about when he's had too much sugar and caffeine (usually Japanese red-bull-type stuff), at 3 in the morning. Don't get me wrong, I love that about him. But now Rowen, who is slumbering in SPACE, is about to be BLOWN-UP by a demon-brain-ball that, it has been implied, is carrying Ryo.

So when do the good guys get a friggin' break, huh? As a good guy, I'd really like to know.

I just have to finish running and screaming first. Actually, when I say running, I mean I started off pretty good, long strides, nice distance, but...that ended quickly. And screaming? Weeell, it began with an invisible sort-of exhale-isn sound, but I actually have some semblance of my voice back now. Not...in a good way.

So what's REALLY happening is I'm waddling quickly, like a fat penguin, because my leg is cramped (and injured) and thanes coming out of my mouth sounds like a coughing police siren. I am also crying. I mean, who wants to know their best friend is about to get blown up? Yeah...I don't think so.

"Emma, lovey!" cue calls out. "You're breaking my heart - you look like a sotted penguin, and sound it, too!"

I stop hobbling and Cye just walks up, having not been all that far behind me. He wraps me in a warm hug, despite the armor, and just holds me.

"I know it, lovey. we've all had about all we can take." Cye pats his head. "And never mind Kento and Sage."

Laughing, no doubt. They started up when Kento said my hair looks like a boy's hair. Jerks. All I can do is cough and sob. At least I'm not bleeding anymore.

"That sounds better, yeah? A cough, but better." Cye kind of makes me think I give him a gentle push, and wish I could tell him to knock-off the too-close-to-the-edge-of-baby-talk. Instead I just limp away.

"If I say I think Rowen is in good hands, will you come back?" Cye walks after me.

I dunno, dude. Up ahead is the demon horse, sniffing the wall. I frown and clap my hands hard. The horse gives me this sideways look with its tongue sticking out, like, 'nooo, I wasn't REALLY gonna lick the wall-moss, but maybe a little'. I shake my head at the horse.

"Rowen is in GOOD hands, Emma. He's of Strata, he'll be all right, you'll see!" Cye's trying. Kudos for it.

I reach the demon horse. EVERYTHING hurts. Even my pain has pain.

The demon horse kneels down. SO much better than a wheelchair.

"Emma!" Sage shouts as he runs up. "Stop! Emma, stop!"

The demon horse turns to look at the approaching blonde teen boy.

"I'm sorry I laughed; would you just stop running away?" Sage grabs the reins at the bridle.

I yank the reins, but it hurts to move my shoulders that way.

"We screwed up!" Sage exclaims as I kind of steer the demon horse past him.

I give the reins a little tug; not moving my arms much, to get the demon horse to stop. Wait, I hope it conveys, I wanna hear this...

Cye joins him, but doesn't say anything.

The demon horse takes a couple steps to turn just-so, and give sage a 'well, go on' kind of wave of my hand.

"All of us Ronin Warriors. Cye, Kento, Rowen, Ryo, and I. WE screwed up and now two of our team may very well die. One is your friend - someone you've been looking for." Sage is making a decent case for himself.

"I don't expect you to see things MY way, I don't expect you to do ANYTHING any of us asks, I don't even WANT you to understand why we can't stop to mourn, but you will; ALL of it, because THAT'S how you'll survive."

He's right. I was planning to ride to wherever they're going next.

Cye looks tense all of a sudden. "Kent, Yuli, Mia!" He runs away.

"Emma, come on!" Sage runs after Cye.

I pat the demo horse's neck. We don't even have to go ludicrous speed to catch up, but...damn. Where'd THEY come from?

Bucket heads GALORE!

Demon horse just GOES for it...with me on his back. Kicking, flailing around like a bronco-rider made of rubber bands.

By the time the demon horse steps, we're separated from the pack. Oh...shit.

"You have the devil's luck, Emma." Gargles the voice of - wait - ROWEN?!

I turn my neck so fast, it goes 'CLICK'.

"Ahhhh...~" I groan and put a hand to my neck.

"And ya sound like a dying' frog." Rowen approaches, hands in the pockets of his jeans, like he just stepped out of that polaroid. "Ya know, you could work on that psychic projection' thing so I can't read yer mind."

I'm SO happy SOMEONE can hear me, I might cry again! Hallelujah - ding dong!

"Hear you? Why wouldn't everybody...wait, can't you talk?" Rowen walks up and touches my leg.

Heey, your hand didn't go through my leg! This is weeeird.

"A'course I touched yer leg, why wouldn't I?" Rowen helps me down, but his touch is...nothing. Like holding that tingling feeling you get when your foot falls asleep.

"Watch it." Rowen keeps me rolling my ankle on the ground.

I miss you. I pout, and touch his hair. Doesn't feel like hair.

"Yeah, i know, but no promises." Rowen is very flippant about being whatever-this-is. "Y'know Astral Projection, right?"

I shrug and nod. Yeah, sure.

"Same thing." Rowen gently examines my neck.

I nod. Makes sense, except that he can touch me.

"Y'know Poltergeists, right?" Rowen keeps examining. I can feel cool pressure on my neck.

Uh-huh, and?

"Same thing. Man, how'd you manage to NOT lose your head here, huh?" Rowen tisks.

Ask Dais. Or Mia.

Rowen frowns, his eyes shifting to mine. "Mia? Why her?"

She drove off without me, and then Cye did this astral-projection thing, but he couldn't touch me, so I stuck around to chat with him.

Rowen's considering this. He shifts his eyes and takes a eep breath. "Mia just...what? Left ya. And then?"

Dais. Flash-memories make both Rowen and I cringe.

Rowen hugs me - for the first time EVER - and I don't care if he feels like that tingly sensation when your foot falls asleep. This is Rowen, most of him anyway. So what if there's a big energy ball on its way to blow him up? He's here.

"There's a what?" Rowen pushes me to arms; length. "Where?"

In space. On its way to you - Ryo's on it, trying to save you.

Rowen blinks slowly. "No fuckin' way."

I nod. Yes fuckin' way.

Rowen stands up straighter. "Your neck'll be fine, and your voice."

I feel my neck. A bit of scar-tissue, but otherwise okay.

"Your voice - keep usin' it, keep trying' anyway." Rowen touches a lock of my hair, says, Looks cute." Then disappears.

An explosion above makes my heart stop...almost. It looks like an atom bomb went off in the sky - no fuckin' way.

I hear a clanging sound. It's far off, a bit, but distinct. What IS that? Where is it coming from?

It's making the demon horse nervous, too. HE grunts and noses me, as if saying, get on! Get on now!

I nod, the demon horse kneels, I get on, and he takes off.

What now? God almighty, why ludicrous speed NOW? Where is this big salute taking me? Crimity jeezus!

We slow down in another part of town - quieter, gray-er, and still dark.

"Buh-Why?" I look around.

"Good fortune favors you, child." Says the voice of The Ancient.

I turn. "You?"

"Yes, my child. You are safe now. Come, we have things to discuss."