A/N I know this is the second song I've put up so far but it reminded me of the end of the chapter. I dedicate this chapter to TL and her endless search to figuring out just what the heck I am talking about. Lol! Hope you guys like. I don't own the Ronin Warriors and constructive criticism is a beauty. :D
Courting The Jester
Chapter Ten
No one knows what it's like
To feel these feelings
Like I do
And I blame you
No one bites back as hard
On their anger
None of my pain and woe
Can show through
But my dreams
They aren't as empty
As my conscience seems to be
I have hours, only lonely
My love is vengeance
That's never free
-The Who "Behind Blue Eyes"
She was sitting out on the dock, watching the sun set slowly in the sky when he found her. He stood back for a while, leaning against the railing, and waited. She'd taken off her shoes and was dangling her legs above the water, toes just barely submerged. She looked almost relaxed, even though he knew it was a front. She hadn't been relaxed in a long time; none of them had. She had pulled her hair up into a messy ponytail and the effect made her seem younger than she was. It was nice, he thought to himself, thinking that maybe for a while she could be carefree. Then she bent her head and she slumped slightly, her thoughts putting the world back on her shoulders. It struck a nerve in him and he moved forward.
He sat down next to her, not saying anything. She gave him a quick tight smile, then turned back to watching the sunset. He searched and searched and just couldn't find the right thing to say. That he would protect her? He'd certainly try, she knew that already. But it was very likely that his protection wouldn't be enough. The thought sent chills down his spine, and he shuddered slightly in the balmy evening air. If she noticed, she didn't embarrass him by acknowledging it.
He wanted to protect her. He would tie her up and stick her in the closet if he thought it would help, but there was more to all this than just her. He wished there wasn't, it would make his life a lot easier. If he could put all his energy into keeping one person safe, and to hell with the rest of them, then maybe he wouldn't feel quite so helpless. He wouldn't feel like they were fighting an uphill battle that couldn't be won.
A slim hand rested on his, fingers cool and soft as they entwined with his rough calloused ones. He shook his head. He'd come here to comfort her, and instead she was doing the reverse. He leaned on her, they all did. Who did she lean on? Who did she turn to when she was frightened and exhausted? He closed his hand around hers and tugged her closer. She exhaled softly and moved over, laying her head on his shoulder. It was a first. It felt good. He tentatively wrapped his arm around her waist, fully expecting her to pull away, but she only pressed closer to him.
He needed to protect her. He was so scared of losing her. He was even more scared of the decisions he might soon have to make. Fear was something he wasn't used to and he didn't like it.
"You're going to be okay," she whispered softly from her place on his shoulder. He looked down at her, memorizing the way she looked right now. Her eyes closed, her face peaceful, her body relaxed against his.
Who does she turn to? He almost laughed at himself, and would have at any other time. Instead he leaned down and brushed his lips softly against her temple, resting his head on hers, his own eyes closed. They stayed that way until it came for them all.
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"Well boys," Cye said with mild disgust tingeing his voice, "I think this is as far as we go. The rest is going to be on foot."
Cye kicked at the wheel of Kento's truck, now buried eight inches deep in the mud. Kento gave Cye a look that said 'don't you dare hurt my baby' but kept his mouth shut. Ryo straightened from where he'd been pushing the vehicle's door and shrugged. It wasn't that they weren't strong enough collectively to lift the truck out of the thick muck the dirt road had become, but it just got stuck again as soon as they put it down. He dusted off his hands and scanned the area for his tiger. He whistled piercingly and heard a roar in response from his left. White Blaze was close, so he wouldn't be left behind.
"Well, we got this far. What do you guys think? That way?" Ryo pointed into the deeply wooded area. The others paused for a moment then nodded. None of them had any idea where the archeological site actually was, but they knew which direction the other Ronin armors were and that was as good as a compass as far as they were concerned. Cye tilted his head to the side then pointed slightly to the right of where Ryo had indicated.
"A little more that way Ryo," Cye adjusted the direction. "Only it's weird, I feel like they keep getting fuzzy on me. Like they're there but they aren't. I guess. Like I said, it's weird."
Ryo gave Cye a sidelong look, but didn't contradict him. He was starting to not only get used to Cye's odd behavior, but to trust in his feelings. He had been right when he'd said something was wrong with Kento earlier. The Ronin of Hardrock had been relatively silent since then, but Kento nodded at Cye's comment.
"Then let's get this over with. I say armor up so we're faster," Kento grunted, donning his undergear with a click. The others followed suit, Ryo pausing once more to whistle for his tiger. White Blaze appeared out of the foliage, the fuzzy remains of something sticking out of his mouth. Cye's jaw dropped and he turned rather greenish when he saw part of it twitch.
"Is that…did he just eat a bunny?" Cye asked in shock, looking slightly sick. Kento snorted and Ryo tried to suppress his grin.
"He is a tiger, Cye," Ryo gently reminded his friend. Cye managed a look of outrage.
"But we feed him! Daily! And that was a little…"
"Bunny?" Kento supplied helpfully. White Blaze looked curiously at Cye then padded forward, dropping the mostly eaten remains at Cye's feet, purring. The Ronin of Torrent yeeped and jumped back. Ryo snickered but tried desperately to cover it up with a cough. The tiger sat back on his haunches and licked his chops, a satisfied expression on his feline face.
"Sometimes animals need fresh meat, Cye," Kento informed his friend, clapping him on the shoulder companionably. "Don't blame him. A little rabbit doesn't sound too bad right now, myself."
Cye stared in horror at his friend, then turned away, shaking his head and muttering to himself. Kento looked over at Ryo and winked. Ryo grinned back, glad that a little of Kento's spark was starting to return. He looked up at the gradually lightening sky, glad that they weren't going to start this search in total darkness. A slight mist was forming and Ryo hoped they weren't going to get rained on.
"Come on guys," he said. "Let's go. I have a feeling that they aren't too far off." Ryo placed his armored foot securely in the dirt and pushed off into a jump, landing balanced on a tree branch fifteen feet above the others. Kento and Cye followed suit, a slightly sick expression still on Torrent's face, as they began a race through the woods to find their friends. Ryo ignored the dark feeling he had that they were already close to being too late.
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"Anybody have any ideas on how we're going to get across?"
Nikki's question, though light in tone, was met with glares and grunts. She sighed and wished that Mia would return soon. At least then it was two against two. Right now she felt a little ganged up on. Sage was angry with her for not expanding on the subject of the girl the demon had turned into, and he went in spells of glaring at her and forcing himself to meditate. Obviously he was having trouble focusing because he'd give up after a while and would return to glaring at her. At least it was more familiar. Nikki was used to Sage disliking her, and the passive indifference he'd shown her thus far had been disconcerting.
Rowen was throwing one of his temper tantrums. This was the kind where he grunted and growled at everybody, pacing around and kicking random stuff. His deep blue eyes flashed angrily and you could almost see his thoughts spinning around in his head fifty miles an hour. When he turned the look on one of the girls, it was as if he was just begging them to start something. Nikki knew better than to mess with Rowen when he was like this; his biting comments could hit home and do much more damage than he would ever realize. It was better to leave him alone.
But just because they both wanted to be angry and moody didn't mean that they didn't have a job to finish. Mia was examining the glyphs and writings on the walls leading up to the chamber in the hopes of finding something to help. Nikki couldn't decipher ancient Japanese languages, so she did her part by sitting there and wondering what to do now.
"Do you guys think you could jump it?" she dared to ask.
"It's about the length of a football field and there's no room to get any momentum built up. What do you think Nikki?" Rowen shot back curtly. Nikki sighed and counted to ten. She told herself that she had to be patient with him right now, because the blue-haired buffoon had saved her life, and that required at least a small bit of tolerance. It didn't give him the excuse of being such an ass, but she thought he was one on a good day, so it could be overlooked…for now.
"Okay," she tried again. "How about using all the ropes and one of your arrows?"
Rowen leveled a look of disgust at her and shook his head. "Do you want to be the first one across with that idea?" he inquired. "Or should the rest of us continue to throw ourselves in harm's way so you girls can find what you're looking so desperately for?"
"Quit it Rowen," Nikki couldn't help but snap back, "You have no idea what you're talking about."
Rowen stomped angrily over to where she sat and leaned down, putting his face in her hers.
"Of course I don't sweetheart. Because you ladies haven't deigned to tell us yet. But once you do I'm sure all this running in circles trying to figure out what to do will be just fine." Nikki pushed at him to get him out of her face, looking away.
"I hate Japan," she muttered crossly. Rowen plopped down in front of her and smiled condescendingly.
"And why, darling girl, do you hate Japan?" he asked her. Nikki stared at him for a minute and then looked away again.
"Because everything here ends up going all to hell, no matter what you do," she replied softly, waiting for his next verbal attack. When it didn't come she looked over at him and saw Rowen watching her, a confused look in his eyes. Then he shook his head and the scowl returned.
"Hey you guys, I think I know how to get around it!" came a call from behind Nikki. Mia hurried up, brandishing a small book that she had been holding. In it were copies of the markings found on the walls. Mia seemed oblivious to the tension between the others and squatted down between them, pointing at the top of a page.
"See this? This is a marking that I couldn't figure out what it meant. It's everywhere in here, all over the place. At first the closest translation that I could come up with was something akin to 'confidence'. The glyphs and markings on the walls talk about finding your way through darkness and light, that both are necessary for a proper balance. I think that's what this place is all about. It's the darkness. Yin and yang. We have to go through one to find the other. They kept saying that the traveler must have 'confidence' to pass through to the next place."
"That makes no sense, Mia," Sage spoke up sharply. "Having confidence we will get there doesn't make us magically find our way."
"I know, Sage," Mia said patiently, "but I think I misinterpreted the word. I don't think it's confidence we need. I think this symbol is the symbol for 'belief'. I think to get across that," she pointed at the chasm, "we need to have the belief that we can."
Silence, then, "I think Mia's been to Disney World one too many times." Mia rolled her eyes at Nikki.
"I know I'm right. I know it. All I have to do is try it." Mia stood and brushed off her hands, looking determinedly across the chasm. She marched towards the edge, shoving her book in her back pocket.
"Oh shit, Mia don't!" Sage suddenly cursed, eyes wide as he jumped up and lunged forward, trying to grab a hold of her arm. Nikki went white and lurched to her feet, Rowen right beside her. Sage was a moment too late and Mia slipped out of his reach. Taking a deep breath and gripping the necklace she wore tightly, Mia stepped off the edge.
She didn't fall.
Mia was standing there, her necklace in a death grip, eyes closed. She was standing on nothing. Nikki watched with her heart in her throat as her friend slowly walked across nothing towards the distant other side. When Mia's feet finally hit dirt again, she stumbled forward, gasping. She turned around and waved at them.
"It's okay!" Mia called. "I felt solid ground under my feet the entire time. It's okay. Come across."
Nikki took a deep breath and looked at where her friend stood. Then she too headed for the edge.
"Wait!" Sage snapped, grabbing onto her arm and restraining her. "Rowen."
"Yeah, I heard it too." Rowen knelt down and grabbed some rocks off the ground, tossing them out over the pit. Nikki heard a clinking sound as some scuttled along on some invisible surface, the others dropped instantly.
"There's a surface that goes across, but it doesn't span everything. I heard Mia's shoes hit it. If it was brighter in here, we might actually be able to see it," Rowen said. He knelt at the edge and felt around until he found the flat hard surface, about three feet across. Then he too took a deep breath and stepped out on it. It held. Rowen bounced up and down several times, then grinned as he turned around.
"Hey Sage," he said, "it's just like Indiana Jones! Total rip off. Only our evil female is still with us."
Nikki glared at him but Sage chuckled slightly. Rowen stepped off and grabbed Nikki's hand pulling her with him.
"Okay, in a line so no one falls off," Rowen said. Sage sandwiched Nikki between the two of them, and they slowly edged their way across. Nikki forced herself to stare only at the back of Rowen's blue head, and not look down. It was with a gasp of relief that she finally found regular ground beneath her. She looked at Mia to find her friend had gone pure white and was sitting on the dirt, staring at the chasm in horror.
"I…I was wrong," she murmured. Sage leaned down next to her and spoke a few words softly in her ear. Mia nodded and seemed to composure herself. Sage helped her to her feet, and Nikki could see Mia was trembling. The redhead took a huge breath then put on her determined face again. Together, and more cautiously than before, they continued deeper into the cavern.
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"Uhh, guys? Do you see that?" Kento asked, sounding weirded out. Ryo moved forward and stood at Hardrock's shoulder. Cye followed, curious. They had just topped a ravine, feeling sure that they were extremely close to the others. They looked where Kento was pointing. Ahead of them were two smooth stones, thrust upright in the ground. Between them was a statue.
"That's just creepy."
"You're telling me."
"I could have gone the rest of my life without ever seeing that."
"I'm going to have nightmares tonight."
"Did they have to make her naked?"
Shaking their heads in disturbed wonder, the three Ronins continued on.
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"Are you okay?" Sage asked Mia quietly, low enough that the two arguing people ahead of them would not hear. Mia nodded and clamped her mouth down tightly.
"No one's mad at you. It was a mistake," he reassured her gently.
"It was a stupid dangerous mistake," she replied bitterly. "We don't have time for those sort of blunders."
"Why don't we, Mia?" Sage pressed her, reaching out and grabbing her hand. "What time scale are we on? What are we trying to do before what happens? Why won't you explain anything?"
"Sage, please leave it alone…" Mia whispered.
"No." He grabbed her hand harder and pulled her around to face him. Mia's breath caught in her throat as intense violet eyes stared deep into hers. She knew what he was about to do; she was surprised she'd staved it off this long. And god help her, she was tired of holding this all in herself. Still she tried to pull away, but Sage drew her up closer and did something he had never done to her before. She knew it worked best with contact but it still startled her when his mouth came down on hers. He delved.
---
"Oh my god, it's coming back! Mia get out of there!" she heard Nikki scream as her friend ran forward.
"Nikki!" she heard a male voice bellow. Mia looked up and realized that there was no way she could escape this one. She had a split second to turn back and look at Nikki, struggling to reach her and being held back by Rowen. She took a deep breath and braced herself, knowing this one was the end. Then he was in front of her, armored arms going around her protectively, a small smile of resignation on his face.
"I always did want to go out with a bang," he joked. She half laughed half sobbed as she grabbed onto him and tried to push him away. Then it hit and everything went black.
---
"We can't tell them. There's no way they'll go along with it. Sage and Cye especially will lose it. They can't know."
"Mia, are we doing the right thing? Mia?"
"…Yes. We have no other choice."
"They'll hate us."
"I know."
---
He was there. Right next to her. He'd never left. He had never left! Oh god, it knew everything…
---
"I'm not going to let you die. I'm not going to let any of you die. Fuck the world," he spat.
She slapped him as hard as she could, but he just turned and walked away.
---
"Mia…are we doing the right thing? Mia?"
"…Yes."
---
"Sage, stop! Please! You can't…" Mia cried. "Get out of my head!"
---
"I think it's watching us. I don't know why we never can feel it, but I think it's still here." She looked around the room, and she could see the concern on all their faces.
"Then how the hell are we supposed to beat it?" one of them asked.
"I don't know."
"But it's here right now…"
"I think so."
---
"This will kill it. But you know what the ancient said. We can't lose them. They're too important."
"Then we'll just have to do it ourselves."
"How?"
"I have an idea."
---
"Mia? Are we doing the right thing? Mia?" the young blonde girl asked, fingering the item in her lap nervously. Mia reached over and touched her hand soothingly.
"…Yes. We have no other choice, Cassie."
"They'll hate us," Nikki whispered bitterly. Mia gave her a sympathetic look.
"I know."
---
"You let this happen!" he screamed, tears running down his face. The other fell to his knees, silently bowed over in despair. "You LET it!" the first sobbed. "You fools!"
---
"Mia, are we doing the right thing?"
"…Yes. We have no other choice, Cassie."
"They'll hate us."
"I know. But in the end they'll never know."
---
"Get out of my head, Sage!" Mia shrieked. "GET OUT!"
---
"I love you…" she whispered. The look of pain on his face was almost more than she could bear. Then his expression darkened and he whispered thickly to her.
"You wait until now to say it? You're a coward." Hemoved away in disgust.
Rowen kept his eyes riveted on Nikki. She turned away.
"Don't you dare. If you're going to do this, watch what you're doing, Nik. Watch everything you're destroying. Watch it!" The snap of his voice made her flinch but she continued to look away.
"Watch Nikki!" Rowen roared. Nikki let out a broken sob and turned her back completely on him.
"Nikki…" Rowen whispered.Nikki shut her eyes and prayed for it to be over.
His back was still to Mia, and it tore her apart inside, but she refused to let it show on her face. It was almost done. Five seconds. Four. Three. He turned around and sad eyes looked deep into hers. He mouthed 'I'm sorry' and Mia couldn't keep the sob from escaping her lips. She grabbed her necklace and turned away, crying openly now. Two. One.
"I love you too," he said softly. She wheeled around to see him but it was too late. It was done.
---
"Mia, are we doing the right thing? Mia?"
"…Yes, Cassie. We have no other choice."
---
"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!"
---
"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" Mia screamed, tearing away from Sage and throwing herself back. She hit a rock and stumbled, falling over. She held her head in her hands and rocked back and forth. Sage staggered back, the act of being forced out of her hitting him like a brick wall. He stood there dazed as Nikki cried out, rushing back to her friend and standing protectively over her. Sage started to move but Nikki jumped forward and shoved him as hard as she could. Sage staggered back again, shaking his head painfully.
"You asshole!" Nikki screamed. "Don't you come anywhere near her!"
"Sage, what the hell?" Rowen started, confused. Sage turned to Rowen, violet eyes blazing.
"You were right all along Rowen. About both of them, " Sage spat.
"What are you talking about-?" Rowen wondered aloud. Sage growled deep in his throat and took two steps forward.
"Sage wait…" Rowen moved to intercept his friend, not knowing what Sage intended to do. He never found out either, because they were interrupted in an amazingly timely fashion.
"Hey guys!" Kento shouted from across the chasm cheerfully. "How the heck do you get across this thing?"