DISCLAIMER: I do not own Ronin Warriors. If I did, I wouldn't be writing fanfiction.


Chapter 12

Shallow Darkness

I give them the only version of how I know this "ancient", which is fairly short anyway.

"And that's how you got to the temple." Ryo says somewhat sulkily.

"Yup." I nod, walking the demon horse.

"And were healed?" Sage asks.

"You got it." I look at the blonde teen.

"And he fixed your voice, too?" Kento grins. "Pretty girls gotta have a pretty voice."

"That too!" I chuckle.

"So, do you know where to find him?" Cye asks.

"No." I slump. Ah well, the 'yes' had to come to an end sometime – all goo things, y'know? "Sorry. Both times, he found me." I step over a lamp post.

"So why give ME the staff? Why not just give it to you, since he seems so fond of you."

Did she just…? Forget it. I get the feeling I'm just going to be living under Mia-passive-agressiveness for the rest of this weird apocalypse.

"Actually, he wanted to bestow a boon on me, but I insisted he'd done so much for me that I'll be fine. Looks like he decided to help YOU out finally, you're welcome; if I see him I'll be sure to tell him how grateful you are." she just URKS me. "And despite everything, I think i'm doing pretty well; getting beat-up wasn't MY fault, and I haven't had all of THEM." I gesture around.

Cye pinches the bridge of his nose, arms folded. Kento turns and looks behind him at nothing. Ryo side-steps. Rowen arches an eyebrow, glancing from me to Mia. Sage sighs, rolls his eyes, and shakes his head a bit.

"All I have is a demon horse and a crossbow that weighs a TON, thank you very much, and I'm still doing just fine!" A bit pontificating, but I haven't really had THAT much help, for her information.

With this really annoyed, arrogant-sort-of sneer makes even Yuli look at Mia with this 'did just do that?' face. "That's all well and good, but I did it with a jeep and a 9-year-old."

You hear that? I think the crickets came out of hiding.

I shake my head slowly. "In another context, that would be..."

"Wrong." Sage says. "In every context."

Mia gasps. "No! That wasn't right! That's not what I meant!"

"Uhhh...?" Kento's mouth is hanging kind-of open. Cye bumps it shut with his hand.

Rowen glances at me then Mia then at me. I shrug.

"It's forgotten." Sage turns, pinching the bridge of his nose again.

I nod. "Any...waaaay...didn't want a boon." I shrug. "Saved me already." I turn to walk over to the demon horse.

"And we should really THANK him." Mia sneers. ACTUALLY sneers. Can I NOT get a break with this woman?

"He's super humble about it, and told me not to thank him." This is me trying to change the subject.

"Becuase isn't it NOONE's fault but Dais?" Mia's tone...yeeah, I don't think so.

Cye makes a last ditch effort to change the subject. "Have any of you seen Shinjuku THIS empty? Ha! It boggles the mind!"

"Dude." Ryo pats Cye's shoulder and shakes his head. "Way too late."

I hate harping on a subject. I mean, really, I'm not one to hold onto things or grudge-match with someone. Plus, Sage had a point earlier - it's not worth it ; the energy, that is...just ONE more dig.

"Sure Mia." I nod. "It wasn't your fault." I shrug. "And hey, I believe everything happens for a reason. So, if and when you figure out what the reason for me getting beat-within-an-inch-of-my-life is, you let me know, okay Mia?" I walk away, leading Buddo by the reins. Someone yells after me, but I ignore them. They know I'm right. I won't be mad anymore - I've spoken my peace, and hopefully given Mia some food for thought.

The demon horse stops, but I keep walking until the reins are almost taught between us. Slowly I turn back to look at the spirit horse. His ears are flicking around, and he starts grunting in reaction to something.

I sigh. "What is it?"

Suddenly we hear footsteps coming toward us. LOTS of footsteps, like an army.

"We...should, um...this way." I pull the reins as I turn to head down the nearest alleyway. There's this weird moaning sound, one I kind of recognize. Despite where I've heard it, I'm not sticking around.

Screaming does WONDERS when scary things are around. "Remember I said I don't scream because it accomplishes nothing?"

The demon nods its head.

"I said it. I take it back. RUUUUH-HUH-HUH-HUUUUUN!"

That siren that just went by a building, followed by the huge demon horse making a similar noise? Yeah, that was me.

"THERE'S A MILLION OF THEM! RUUUUUN!" This is my life now, I guess; save a life, have a lull, get in trouble, run like hell. It's a thankless existence so far.

I don't feel like stopping to take on a HORDE, so run is pretty much all I can do right now. The demon horse - genius over here - stops and whinnies.

"What? Hey CRAZY-HORSE keep running!" I only take a few steps before turning to make sure the demon horse is following.

Buddo pricks his hears up, like, 'oh shit! Do you hear that?'.

Whether or not that's really what the demon horse is saying, I try to be quiet despite breathing hard.

Glass breaking - no - SHATTERING. I had no idea any windows survived that first onslaught when lightning was striking the building - y'know, back when the apocalypse was just starting.

"Somebody's windows?" It's getting louder; whatever's going on.

Yelling...growling?...shouting! Battle - the Ronin Warriors are close by!

" - yuli, Mia, run for it~!"

"Was that Ryo?" I gasp.

The demon horse stomps its feet and whinnies.

"Come on!" I run toward the noise.

The noise is all freaky out here! I can't figure out where it's all coming from anymore. I can hear...cars?

I pause. "Do you hear cars?"

The demon horse turns to an entrance to an underground parking area.

"I was underground once this week - No, no, wait!" Of course I'm going to run after the demon horse. He's all I've got right now.

"Buddo!" I call down to the pitch black parking garage.

A neigh.

"Come OUT! Seriously!" I'm NOT getting stuck in the dark again.

"Maybe he's just tired of you." Sage says behind me. Yeah, he startled me, but I'm just glad he's not one of those bucket-head-soldiers.

I DO jump away and trip down the entrance to ramp. "Fuck, fuck, ow..." Yeah, fell on my ass, and looked STUPID in front of a guy. I just sit for a second and wait for the humiliation to ebb a bit.

Sage walks up behind me and crouches down. "Is this gonna be some kind of pattern with us?" From this angle, I can see under his bangs combed over his face, and the look he's giving me is...well...it's SAGE.

"Us?" I straighten up a bit, but still sitting on the pavement like a dope. I have to twist a bit to look at him. I turn to glance into the dark, but still can't see Buddo. Looking back at Sage, I squint at his stupid face raising his eyebrows at me. "What's that supposed to mean, a pattern? What pattern?"

"Whenever I find you in the dark, you scream at me." Sage says.

Oh...THAT. I fold my arms. "Don't sneak up on me, and I won't scream."

Sage shrugs and scratches the back of his neck. "Whatever." He takes a short, deep breath and looks away but, doesn't get up.

We both turn to see the demon horse clopping up, ears perked.

"Satisfied? Yes? Let's go. Like it's not dark enough out THERE." I point up at the entrance. "I'm not staying down HERE."

The demon horse turns and trots back into the darkness; I swear that horse just chuckled.

"Guhhg." I'm so NOT in the mood for this.

Sage stands up and holds out his hand. "Come on. I'll help you."

I look away. "Not going."

Sage shrugs. "Suit yourself. Sit here by yourself." He turns, walking backwards, and with this quizzical sort-of look, says. "Is it getting darker, you think?"

No, it's NOT...isn't it? I turn and look up at the overcast, dark, sky. "No - WAIT! Sage!" I leap up and run after him. I'm not keen on being alone ANYWHERE in this city, and I'm sort of morbidly curious what's caught the demon horse's fancy so strongly.

"Let's just get Buddo and go. I am NOT keen on staying down here."

Sage's arm loops around mine. "Well...it's not a cave."

I snort. "No, worse. It's a parking garage. Under buildings. Next worst thing."

I guess it could be worse; I could be alone. Still, being lead through the dark by Sage is NOT my idea of a romantic date in Shinjuku.

"It IS getting darker. No, let's go back." I stop. Sage's arm slides down my arm, and he grabs my hand to keep from leaving, no doubt. I'm shaking my head, but can barely make out the shape of Sage standing near me. "I don't wanna be down here."

The clop-clop of the demon horse's hooves approach.

"Buddo!?" My voice comes out shrill and scared.

"Shh! Hear that?" Sage is right next to me, his hand still holding mine.

"Yeah, it's Buddo." I nod, my heart beating hard and fast. I want OUT of the darkness. A weird sputtering noise echoes suddenly.

"What the-? Did you just-?" Sage coughs.

"WHAT? Excuse me, NO!" I shout. "I'm a girl! I have girly farts! It was the HORSE!"

Okay, I KNOW this time the demon horse was DEFINITELY chuckling.

"Guuuuugh! I need AIR!" I turn and head for the entrance that I can still see from here.

"No wait!" Sage grabs my arm. "Not that way, it's too dangerous!"

"No it's not, it's-AH!" Okay, so the bucketheads starting to come down the ramp are probably an indication that Sage is right.

"Go, I got this!" Sage pushes my by the hand.

"No, I'm not leaving you - I can fight too!" I squeeze his hand so he can't let go. "You don't have to do this alone."

"Go!" Sage stands close for a minute then pushes me away by the hand, letting go.

Oh fine. "Don't you dare DIE, you JERK!" I get on Buddo.. "I'm maaad at youuu tooo!" I shout as the demon horse runs ludicrous speed.

We come to a dead end, of course - I mean, it's a frikkin' parking garage. I totally CALLED this earlier.

"Maaaan." I sigh. "Now what?"

Buddo looks left then trots over - broken doors leading into a shopping mall.

Riding a horse through a shopping mall ROCKS. Buddo stops to nose some ugly jackets, and chews on a mannequin's wig then keeps moving.

"You're such a horse." I shake my head at the demon horse as we get walking again.

It's nice that we're not being attacked, but y'know that feeling that you're ABOUT to be attacked? Yeah...

There's a sign for the subway, but I am NOT getting stuck underground again! Nope, not doing it. No way.

Buddo has other plans. The demon horse heads for the sign, and leaps down the stairs. If I hadn't leaned back, that last sign would've taken my head off.

Up another flight of stairs he goes, and another sign almost takes my head off.

"Hey! Watch the signs, ya big, dumb...- oh." We're out. As in, OUT out - out of the mall, out of the station, and...well...bucketheads. LOTS of bucketheads.

"Is this YOUR subway exit? Heh." I don't have to say a word more; Buddo just starts backing up slowly toward the staircase.

I'm not complaining, but they're not moving. Not advancing, not making a sound.

Then next to us, a GRATING opens, and Sage climbs out.

I give a deft little wave. "Hey."

Sage sees the soldiers and freezes.

Mia then Yuli climb out of the grating. Yuli runs around Sage, grinning. "We maaade iiit - WOAH!"

"Yuli, get back!" Sage snaps. "Emma, stay behind me!"

"Yeah..." I lift my crossbow. "I don't think so."

Sage lifts his arms, and glows a bright, white light. "ARMOR OF HALO! TAO CHI!" The light fades, and he's in armor.

There's no time for words, or anything that may have once resembled words. Buddo lunges into action, Sage lunges into action, and I do what I can, which turns out to be alot.

I frown. "Anyone else think they didn't put up much of a fight?" I look at Sage. "And by anyone, I mean you."

Sage looks around. "I dunno, and I don't wanna stick around and find out."

"Great, Sage!" Mia shouts.

"You got 'em, Sage!" Yuli chimes in.

Buddo grunts.

"Just let it go." I sigh.

"Let's find the others, before anything ELSE happens!" Sage calls over to them.

Thunder rumbles a bit overhead.

I turn to look up. "You were saying?"

"Huh?" Sage looks up where I'm looking. "Too late." Sage groans.

Lightning strikes a really TALL building near where we're all standing.

"Emma!" Sage calls.

"Get them!" I'm already running.

"Look out! Run!" Sage urges Mia and Yuli. "RUN!"

Buddo and I head after Sage, but the building is just falling too fast. Ever been buried alive?