Rowen brushed hair from Riska's face as her head rested in his lap. The van they drove in hit a bump Rowen gripped Riska around the stomach to keep her on the bench seat with him. He looked up and glared at the driver.
"I'm sorry; it was a pothole… sorry." Kento said from the driver's seat as he glanced in the rear view mirror.
"Just drive a little slower." Rowen requested.
"According to the map, we're almost there." Kayura said from the passenger seat.
"Do you think Sage and Cye made it up to Mount Fuji with Ryo already?" Kento asked as they stopped at the night traffic light. They watched as crowds of people crossed the street going about their life as if nothing was happening. It hadn't taken long for the people of Tokyo to forget the most recent attack by the Nether Realm.
"Probably, they didn't have traffic and pedestrians to worry about."
Rowen looked up to watch the passing buildings; they were back in Tokyo heading to Asakusa or the old town. He thought back to how they finally figured out where to take Riska.
Back at Mia's mansion they had scoured Mia's library all searching for an answer of where to take Riska. Meanwhile they had to listen as Ryo and Riska seemed to struggle against an unseen enemy as they tossed and turned in their beds.
Rowen fought against the need to be at Riska's side, knowing that it would be useless; he couldn't fight something that wasn't even in the same world as him.
"There must be some clue, something that we overlooked in the legends." Rowen growled as he punched a wall near the bookcase.
Cye paused beside him and gave him a sympathetic look, "I don't know. We didn't even know about Riska or her armor in the first place."
Odessa looked up from where she sat beside Kento. She looked to the man next to her before looking at Rowen.
"Are there none left that can tell her legend?" The other worldly woman asked.
"Kayura." Sage looked at the young woman who was glancing over old weathered maps on Mia's desk.
"As far as I know no one had ever written her origins down. And what few passages do mention her doesn't talk about who she is specifically. However, I'm still new to all this. What I know is from my memories." Kayura explained.
"Then what do you remember?" Rowen asked slowly.
Kayura sighed, "Bits and pieces, nothing in order. I remember her taking our oath, I remember her coming into our village battered and broken carried by a dark warrior."
Rowen felt himself pale, even though it was centuries ago he still imagine Riska hurt, probably dying as she was brought to the Ancients. He curled his hand into a fist then released it.
"The Ancient One, the one before me, he had many secrets. Many of which I am still learning. I suspect that the Souls armor's resting place is one. The only thing that I can guess is that it is not a location similar to all of yours." Kayura sighed.
"What do you mean, not like ours?" Cye questioned.
"Your armors rely on the elements to recharge, and to get close to the elements you have to be isolated. The Souls armor relies on the very thing that makes humans… human." Kayura explained as she examined an old katana sword Mia had on display.
"Life… souls…" Rowen whispered he looked down at the small wisp that was resting on his shoulder. The small orb didn't seem to want to leave his side since they got back into the office.
"So, her armor must recharge somewhere that there would be a constant source of people." Kento concluded.
"That can't just be it." Sage rubbed his face, "if it were, Souls never would have to recharge. There has to something more to the equation."
Rowen sighed and walked to the window. He looked out into the late night, it was snowing yet enough light was emitting that he could see into the yard. Following the source of the light he saw a small break in the clouds, just large enough to expose the full moon and the stars surrounding it. It was as if the heavens were peeking through to watch them below.
"The heavens." Rowen whispered.
"What was that?" Sage asked looking up from a scroll.
"The heavens." Rowen repeated turning around an idea hitting him. "Riska told me when we first met that the natures of our armors mirror one another. That there's no life without hope, and spirits are closest to the sky."
"So?" Cye asked encouraging Rowen to continue.
"So, what is closest to the heavens here on earth?" Everyone replied with blank stares. "Religious structures, shrines."
"That would make sense. Especially if it's an older one. They are also usually surrounded by people." Cye tapped his fingers on the desktop thinking.
Kento groaned, "Great, that'll be easy. We just have to comb through the thousands of shrines in Japan." Rowen looked down, he had forgotten that. "And that's assuming you're right."
Everyone was silent until they heard a scream from down the hall. Rowen ran out of the room with the others following.
Mia stood in the doorway to Ryo's room; she was gripping the door frame. "The scream, it's Riska." She said as Rowen ran past. Sage slowed down to look into Ryo's room to see their leader laying unnaturally still in his bed, relief washed through him when he watched Ryo's chest rise then fall as he breathed.
"We'll check on her." Sage promised then followed Kento, Cye, and Kayura.
Inside Riska and Rowen's room, Rowen was kneeling next to the bed gripping Riska's hand. He had interlocked his fingers with hers while his other hand covered the back of hers. Riska's back was arched off the bed in evident pain. No more noise came from her but the evidence was raked over her body. Scratches, cuts, and bruises covered her arms and neck. Without warning her body collapsed and her face relaxed as if she had fallen asleep or lost consciousness.
The small spirit was near Riska's head as if trying to sooth her. Rowen could feel warmth emanate from it.
"For her to scream or make any noise, she must be under extreme duress." Kayura explained looking down at Riska with slight distaste. "Interesting… I'm surprised Hariel would allow anything like that happen to her."
"You sound as if you're disappointed. Surprised that she's not betraying us after all?" Rowen hissed.
Kayura sniffed, "for all we know she just pissed off a few demons. It wouldn't be the first time."
Rowen turned his head to say something but Kento placed a hand on his shoulder to stop him.
"You don't know Riska like we do." Sage told Kayura, "Perhaps you should wait before you pass judgement."
Rowen looked at his brothers in arms they all stood between Kayura and Riska creating a barrier between them. He felt pride swell in his chest.
"Very well." Kayura sighed and looked at Riska, "we cannot let them stay here much longer. We can at least get Ryo to Mount Fuji while we're still figuring out where to take her."
"I'll go get him ready." Sage said calmly and left the room; Kento gave Kayura a glare then followed Sage out of the room.
Rowen looked back at Riska watching her breath slowly, the cherry blossom necklace he had gotten her rested on her chest. As he watched her he thought back to all the happier memories of them.
The first time he showed Riska how to use a computer. Her taking him to southwestern Japan to where her home had once been. Their conversations about science, history, philosophy, religion, he smiled as he remembered something she would say when something went well for her that she didn't think was going to. Kannon have mercy.
Kannon, the goddess of mercy, she was the most beloved goddess in Buddhism. It surprised him that Riska believed in Buddhism. She came from a time when Shinto was the primary religion. However, she was never very religious considering what she had seen of the spirit realm and afterlife. Nonetheless she simply told Rowen that there was no reason to not believe in the idea of deities. She found Kannon inspiring in that the goddess loved mankind and nurtured people.
Rowen had suggested they visit her shrine, Senso-ji and had even gotten her a book that she pored over. And took notes in. And kept here at Mia's….
Rowen placed Riska's hand back onto her stomach then got up and crossed the room in three strides.
"Rowen?" Cye asked watching as Rowen opened the dresser in the room and took a book out of the top drawer.
Rowen opened the book to flip through the pages but didn't have to go far. Just inside the cover was Riska's handwriting, she had written him a note.
If they find me, take me to Kannon where the earth reaches for the heavens.
"Senso-ji, that's where we take Riska," Rowen said showing Cye the note.
"Why the notes, why didn't she just tell us?" Cye asked taking the book from Rowen.
"Does it matter? We figured out where to take her, let's get her there before things get worse." Rowen insisted.
Cye nodded and looked to Rowen with a smile, "Alright, you're right. Let's go tell the others."
Rowen nodded and took the book again before leaving the room with Cye.
Kayura hung back, momentarily forgotten; she waited until the boys were in Ryo's room before turning to Riska. Slowly she approached the side of the bed then kneeled beside it. She leaned in until she was a breath away from her ear.
"I know you can hear me, at least dream of me. Either way, Riska of Souls, remember the oath you made with the Ancients. I will not allow you to abandon your responsibility or I will kill you myself."
"Kayura?" Rowen questioned having returned from the other room.
Kayura stood up calmly and looked at him, "we should leave now. If Souls is to go to a location surrounded by people, I imagine we want to get there before any sees us."
"Right." Rowen said slowly as he approached the bed again. Kayura got out of the way as Rowen picked Riska up, cradling her in his arms. He held her close as if trying to keep her from Kayura. "Let's go."
To Kento's disappointment Odessa stayed behind at the mansion deciding that she would be too inconspicuous. Mia offered to keep her entertained with stories of their world instead. So, after pouting Rowen tore Kento from the soon to be new guardian and convinced him to drive his van.
However, as they hit yet another bump Rowen was regretting his decision. He was about to say something when Kento beat him to it.
"We're here." Kento announced as they pulled up into an alleyway close to the main entrance to Senso-ji at the southern side of the complex.
The small spirit, who had made it comfortable on Kento's lap during the drive, now moved with to Kento's shoulder as he opened the driver side door.
Once out of the car Kento and Kayura got out of the car first to look around. As they disappeared around the corner Rowen carefully got of the van before getting Riska out as well. He shifted her in his arms so that he could handle carrying her long distance.
"Just a few security guards and custodians. No one else seems to be here yet." Kento said coming back into the alley.
Above them the sky was starting to lighten up with the coming sun. Sounds coming from the streets were of early risers heading for work or club goers heading home to bed.
"Let's hurry then." Rowen said. "Where's Kayura?"
"She went on ahead to try to distract anyone from seeing us."
"Nice of her." Rowen muttered.
Kento sighed, "I know, I'm not happy with her either right now. But that doesn't matter; we have to get Riska into Senso-ji."
Rowen nodded and followed Kento as his friend took the lead with the small orb of light floating between them. Together they approached the Kaminarimon gate that guarded the shrine entrance.
"The Thunder Gate." Kento smiled, "too bad Sage isn't with us, I'm sure he'd be entertained by the coincidence of it."
Rowen looked up at the imposing structure, a large black and red lantern hung in the center. On each side were two large statues. One was of Raijin the god of Thunder and the other was Fujin the god of wind.
"Not the only coincidence." Rowen muttered thinking of his Strata armor.
They continued through the gate and slowly made their way down the long mall of open air souvenir shops. It was quiet other than wooden signs tapping against the walls of the stores. And left over paper that blew over the walkway.
There was no sign of Kayura or anyone else, both Ronins considered it a good sign.
As they reached the Hozomon gate they spotted a janitor sweeping candy wrappers away from underneath the arch. Kento and Rowen quickly ducked behind one of the large columns. They watched the middle aged man who seemed oblivious to their presence.
"Guess Kayura missed one." Kento whispered.
"Or she left him alone since he's wearing headphone connected to a Walkman." Rowen indicated with a nod of his chin.
Listening carefully Kento could hear the muffled sound of music coming from the custodian. They watched him as he worked waiting for him to turn away from them.
Rowen shifted Riska's weight and looked down at her. His stomach dropped as he spotted how him her kanji had gotten, she was pale and didn't seem to be breathing easily.
"Kento, we have to hurry." Rowen whispered urgently.
Kento nodded and got ready to step out of the shadow of the column to create a distraction when something crashed across the mall they had come from.
Both Ronins turned to see the source of the crash as well as the custodian.
"What the-?" The custodian took his ear plug out from one side then headed towards the direction of the sound.
"Let's go." Rowen told Kento rushed and began to jog through the gate. Kento followed his heart pounded hoping that the man behind them wouldn't turn around and notice them.
As soon as they got through the gate the space opened up to the inner complex of the shrine. Ahead of them was the main shrine, Senso-ji temple, off to the left was the five story pagoda lit up with lights illuminating the ancient structure.
"Now where?" Kento asked.
Rowen took a deep breath, "Riska wrote that we should take her where the earth reaches for the heavens."
Kento nodded and look around. He paused looking at the pagoda as it towered over the Senso-ji complex. He glanced over at Rowen.
"Makes sense." Rowen shrugged reading Kento's mind.
"You know, you never had to deal with the scavenger hunt to find our armor's resting places. You were the last person we had to find. We got it easy this time around, mostly anyway." Kento commented as they started for the tower.
Rowen rolled his eyes, "Kento, you were barely involved with all that. Ryo and Mia did most of the work."
Kento grinned and shrugged, "does it matter?"
"You brought it up." Rowen pointed out.
Kento chuckled and gave Rowen's shoulder a playful push. Then his face became serious again.
"You remember the summer we met?" He asked suddenly.
Rowen glanced at Kento then nodded, "yea, it was at my grandfather's shrine. You were the dorky exchange student at the time."
Kento beamed, "yea, it was fun wasn't it? Especially when we played that prank on that one old lady."
"Yea, sure, especially when you got me grounded for almost a month. I hand washed the floors in the temple for a week straight. My arms and legs ached every night."
Kento shrugged, "she shouldn't have taken a talking dragon statue so seriously."
Rowen smiled and shook his head.
"Ah, there he is. There's the joking Rowen I know." Kento pointed out.
Rowen glanced at Kento as his smile melted away again, "c'mon, Kento, now really isn't the time."
"Maybe, maybe not, either way you can't let those who situation change you. Nor can you let your temper get the best of you. We'll get Ryo and Riska's souls back to their bodies. We just have to go one step at a time."
Rowen sighed and glanced at Riska before looking up again the pagoda was getting closer.
"I know. Neither of them would appreciate the amount of times I've yelled or thrown things since they got taken. I'm usually the level headed one and I haven't been thinking clearly."
"Can't blame you, the woman you love is in danger. But, remember, she did it to try to save Ryo. She knows what she's doing." Kento said solemnly.
"I sure hope so, Kento."
As they approached the small door that led into the pagoda Kayura appeared again behind them.
"All the caretakers of this place have been taken care of. They are investigating various disturbances towards the edges of the complex." She told the Ronins.
"Thank you, Kayura." Rowen told her sincerely.
Kayura nodded and looked up at the pagoda. "This is not the original pagoda." She told them.
Rowen nodded, "you're right, it was rebuilt after World War II. But everything was re-sealed and re-created."
"The Ancient One has been here before, long ago. I can sense what remains of his presence."
"He must have prepared the space for Riska, just in case." Kento guessed, he bent down and help the kodama come back up to his shoulder. It made Rowen happy that his friend had finally accepted the small spirit and encouraged it to stay near them.
"Let's hope so." Rowen stared at the door.
"Uh, Rowen… shouldn't we be heading inside, to you know the top to get Riska to safety." Kento pointed out sarcastically.
"I know, I know…" Rowen licked his lips. "It's just that… this is a very sacred place… I'm just saying a silent prayer."
Kento nodded and turned towards the door as well and bowed his head. After a moment Kayura followed the Ronins example. They all said a silent prayer then Rowen gave Kento a nod to open the door to the pagoda.
One by one they entered the ancient tower. Kento took the lead with the spirit on his shoulder, Rowen followed holding Riska, and Kayura took the back to watch over their shoulders. She closed the door behind the group.
Everyone paused as they entered the center of the room on the main floor. There were several small rooms surrounding them with fabric curtains printed with the symbol of the shrine serving as doors. The curtains swayed as the air settled from the door closing. It was quiet; no one seemed to be around.
Rowen looked at the candles that lit up the rooms; they illuminated the Ihai tablets and small statues of Kannon inside.
"This way." Kayura stated using her Ancient staff to point in the direction of a stairwell that disappeared up into the next floor.
Rowen shifted Riska again her head leaned against his chest limply while her loose hand hung off her side. He could her slow breathing with her face so close to his. He fought the urge to kiss her hair and took the lead to the stairwell instead.
The next floor was a larger wooden statue of Kannon; she was in a relaxed lounging position sitting on a boulder. Her right knee was up with her arm resting on top while her other hand hovered over her chest holding the shape of the Buddhist symbol of Vitarka that encouraged the constant flow of energy and teaching. She looked forward at any who entered this floor with a calm almost welcoming expression. The crown on her head was simple and made her look all the more beautiful
Rowen bowed his head to the statue feeling as if he were entering the goddess' realm. Kento walked up to the statue to examine it before bowing as well. Kayura seemed to study the statue as if expecting it to move, but it never did.
Slowly they made their way up to the third floor which was set up as a small library. Each wall had a built in bookshelf that were fully stocked. A small table was setup with an unlit lantern. Most texts in the room looked ancient but a few modern books also lined the shelves.
On the fourth floor was small office for the miyamori, the shine warden, it was currently empty but his desk was covered in papers including a brochure for the shrine's complex.
Looking around they saw that getting to the fifth floor was going to be a little harder. While the last few floors offered a narrow staircase that twisted with the tower the entrance to the fifth floor was a ladder. A hatch covered the entrance, and a lock was in place to prevent anyone from going up.
"Well, that's a kink in our plan." Kento sighed. The wisp on his shoulder bobbed as if in agreement.
"The lock has a spell on it." Kayura noted. "Whoever put it there, they do not want anyone to open it."
Rowen sighed and looked down at Riska. He grew alarmed. Riska had grown to a ghostly white complexion; her breathing had slowed to an alarming rate. Her hope kanji on her forehead was glowing brightly again and seemed to slowly blink, they were so close to getting her safe. His could feel her kanji ball in her pocket hum as a beacon as well.
"We must get up there, we came all this way. Kayura, is there any way you can unlock it?" Rowen asked almost begging the young Ancient.
Kayura looked from Riska to the lock, "yes, but it means I would have to break it. It would make it obvious that someone broke in."
"Do it." Rowen told her.
"Then what?" Kento asked, "What if someone goes up there to see why it was broken and finds Riska? I doubt they'd let some random unconscious woman in armor stay very long."
"We don't have a choice, Kento. It's this or let her die." Rowen looked his friend in the eye, begging him to agree.
Finally Kento sighed, "Well, I'm sure there's just going to be another curse for us to defeat when we do this. Alright."
Rowen gave Kento a relieved smile and looked back at Kayura.
"Very well." Kayura walked up to the ladder then raised her staff to the lock on the hatch. After a moment the staff lit up, its light spread to the lock then with a snap it broke. Kayura caught the small metal object as it fell.
Kayura then moved to go up the ladder first; she opened the hatch carefully and climbed up into the fifth floor. Kento went next disappearing into the top room as well; the spirit seemed to cling to his shirt with small elongated wisps like tiny arms to hang on.
Rowen approached the ladder and looked up. Both Kayura and Kento waited to grab Riska to pull her up. Rowen looked down at Riska, "almost there, my love." He whispered.
"C'mon, Ro, I won't drop her." Kento promised encouraging Rowen. He knew that his friend hesitated at letting the girl leave his arms.
Rowen finally nodded and shifted Riska to carefully lift her up towards the two people above. Her head lolled back but she didn't make any noise.
Kento reached and got a hold of Riska's upper bicep, while Kayura got her lower bicep. Together the trio worked to pull Riska up into the fifth floor. As soon as Kento was able he shifted Riska to cradle her as Rowen had done.
Rowen quickly climbed up the ladder to join them.
Once in the final room of the pagoda, Rowen took Riska back from Kento holding her closely. He tucked his head to get a close look at the girl in his arms. He could feel Kento watching him with a pitiful look while Kayura's expression was more guarded.
"Alright." Rowen sighed after he gave Riska a kiss on the temple. "Now what?" He turned around to observe the room.
To their surprise there a small shrine set up with candles surrounding an old wooden box. Symbols on the box told them that it held the ashes of Buddha inside. Small prayer papers offering blessings to Buddha, Kannon, and the shrine surrounded the room.
Rowen noticed a feeling of warmth and safety surrounded himself in this room. He knew from the feeling that Riska and her armor of Souls belonged here.
"Ro, look." Kento pointed out a space opposite of the shrine with Buddha's ashes. There was a short platform with an olden stool with crisscrossing brackets sitting on top of it. Moving closer to it Rowen could feel Riska's armor orb pulsate stronger than ever, even Riska seemed to move a little being so close to the chair.
"Do you see that?" Kayura asked as she was examined the stool.
On the seat of the stool was the carved kamon symbol for Riska's armor, a sakura blossom. They looked around and realized that the symbols of all the Ronin's kanji's and armor kamon symbols were carved into the platform the stool stood on.
Rowen looked up and froze. On the ceiling intricate carvings of covered the beams crossing over the room. And positioned directly center to the platform was the symbol for hope, it almost blended into the carvings above. The symbol began to glow purple sensing Souls was nearby.
"Let's get her on the stool." Kayura declared and moved to the platform to wait.
Rowen walked over with Kento following him. The small spirit on Kento's shoulder hovered down and began to explore the room.
Kento helped Rowen get Riska to sit on the stool. He then took over for his friend holding Riska in an upright position as if she were sitting. Kayura arranged her hands so that they rested on her lap.
Rowen watched the hope kanji glow brightly on Riska's forehead; the light highlighted just how sickly she had come to look. Her cheeks were starting to hollow out and dark circles surrounded her eyes. The cut on her forehead had stopped bleeding but now it scabbed over. Her arms were covered in cuts that looked like small lines drawn on her.
Taking a deep breath Rowen took the Soul armor orb out of his pocket. In his palm it seemed to hum as the purple clouds within the orb danced.
Rowen took a step back from the platform with Kayura next to him. Lifting his arm he pointed the orb at Riska.
A bright purple light emitted from the orb filling the room with the sound of wind chimes. Rowen and Kento imagined they could feel the soft petals of sakura blossoms falling on them.
Rowen gasped, for a moment he had a vision that made his heart race. Tears pricked his eyes as if the air was making them water. For a moment he swore he was back in the stream between dimensions, floating in place. His hand was still outstretched but he saw that he was in his armor and was reaching out towards another armored hand. However, this armor was light gray and purple. Looking up he saw Riska without her helmet on, she was saying something but he couldn't hear her. They were just trying to just touch one more time but something was ripping them apart.
Before Rowen say anything the bright light blinked and he opened his eyes. He was back in the pagoda at the Kannon shrine. The Souls orb had disappeared from Rowen's fingers.
Kento took a step back as he realized the Souls armor was once again on Riska. The armor was stiff and held Riska in a sitting position. The mask that covered Riska's face was in place and exposed only her closed eyes which were shaded by shadows.
Rowen took a deep breath trying to steady his quick heart beats. Kayura was watching him but he didn't turn to look.
"I have wondered when you would come." A voice said behind them.
The two Ronins and Ancient went stiff and slowly turned to see who spoke.
An elderly man in traditional Buddhist monk robes stood at the edge of the entrance to the fifth floor. He smiled warmly at the group.
"Welcome, Ronins and Ancient One. I have waited a very long time for you to arrive with the Guardian."
Kento, Rowen, and Kayura looked at each other.