Disclaimer: Must we say this every chapter? We don't own the Ronins. Happy?
Peace is Threatened
Chapter 12.
Rekino ran down to the boys' locker room. She had this gut feeling that something bad had happened. Not only to Rowen, but someone else as well. She made a vow that if anything had happened to Rowen, someone would pay. She rounded the corner and ran right into Flash. Both of the teens fell on the ground.
"Whoa!" Flash said. She was about to get an attitude with whoever had run into her, but she looked and saw it was Rekino, "What's the rush?"
Rekino stood up and gave Flash her hand, "Something's wrong. I can feel it."
Flash nodded, "Yeah. Something is definitely wrong," she paused before she continued, "Thunder's been abducted."
"What?" Rekino screamed, "How do you know?"
"Thunder and I, along with the other warriors, share a bond. When one of us gets hurt, we can feel it. I know he's been abducted, Rekino, and I know who too."
"Mesu," Rekino breathed the demon's name with a rage in her heart. She and Flash walked out of the boys' locker room when Mia and Hana ran up to them. Rekino immediately felt something, "Mia, what's wrong?"
"It's Rowen. Something happened to him," Mia said out of breath, "I've been looking for you for the past half hour. I went by the weight room and you weren't there. I saw Hana, Josephine, and Amaya. Flash wasn't there either."
"Uh…hi Mia," Flash said waving, "I've been here with Rekino. Anyways, it seems that we all have a problem. Mesu took Thunder."
The Lady Guardians of Strata and Halo just stared in disbelief. All of their work seemed to be falling apart. Hana's fists were clinched at her side and she was frowning deeply. Mia just stood there, her eyes wide with surprise and hurt. The four female armor bearers just stood there in silence before Flash spoke.
"What are we going to do now?" She asked with worry in her voice.
"Kick Mesu's sorry ass!" Hana said.
"Sorry, but I don't like that idea, Hana," Rekino said. She was worried about something, "We all know that Thunder got abducted, but we need to find Rowen," She heard Hana growl mutter something that no one could hear, "What did you say, Hana?"
Hana looked at Rekino, "I called you a selfish bitch. You only want to find Rowen because he's your boyfriend. Please Rekino, that's a little on the selfish side. Not to mention uncaring."
Rekino's eyes turned to slits. That wasn't the reason. Rowen was a vital part of the Ronin Warriors. Yes, she did love him. That wasn't the reason. She was about to turn and walk away when her cell phone rang. She looked at her caller id on the phone, "That's strange."
"What?" Flash asked.
"Kiropathia Memorial is calling me," Rekino said. She got a sick feeling in her stomach and answered the phone, "Hello?"
"Is this Miss Rekino Sanada?"
"Yes it is. Who's calling?" Rekino asked a little worried.
"This is Kiropathia Memorial Hospital. We're calling on behalf of Doctor Kinomota and Rowen Hashiba. Our records say that we are to contact you if something was to happen to Mr. Hashiba. He was brought into our care twenty minutes ago."
Rekino felt tears coming to her eyes. This couldn't be happening! Not now! Not after everything they've been through! "Say no more. I'll be right there," Rekino hung up her phone, and, without a word to the others, took off to the student parking lot. She jumped into her 4-runner and speed off towards the hospital.
The others were just staring, "Here's the plan. Hana, go tell the others we went to Kiropathia to follow Rekino. Tell them that Mia and I will give them a call later at the house. Oh, and tell the sensei that we left because there was an emergency," Flash said and took off running to the parking lot.
Mia dug into her pocket, "Give the keys to Ryo," Mia said. She handed her jeep keys to Hana and took off after Flash. Once she got there, she saw the young warrior on her motorcycle.
"Hop on," Flash said. Mia nodded and got onto the back. With a burst of power from the engine, they took off towards the hospital. Mia clinching her eyes shut the whole way.
*~*
Thunder woke up with a splitting headache. He opened his eyes to be met with darkness. The last thing he remembered was getting attacked from behind at the school. He sat up and rubbed the back of his head. There was a little dried blood there, but no real damage. He stood up only to be brought back down by a magical force field, "What the hell?"
"I see you're awake, Thunder of the Storm," A dark, eerie voice said. It was Mesu. He appeared outside of Thunder 'force field' wearing a smirk of satisfaction, "How do you like my gift? This is a magical box that will keep you here. You can't get out of this! HAHAHA!"
Thunder smirked at the evil demon, "You've got serious problems."
"No, you're the one who's got the problems, boy. You're stuck here!"
"I guess you don't know my friend Flash very well then. She'll come and rescue me. Then, we'll kick your butt into the next dimension!" Thunder said angrily.
Mesu smirked, "Yes. That's what I was hoping she would do. I'm not stupid boy! I know all of your tricks. You will not be able to make contact with Firestarter until she gets here. And once she does, there will be a surprise waiting for her."
"If you touch her, I swear…"
"Or you'll what? Don't worry. She's not the only one I have a surprise for. She'll bring those damned Ronin Warriors and Lady Ronin Guardians with her. Of course, they coming may be sooner than I expect. After all, Lady Wildfire's going to want revenge after what I did to her lover," Mesu summoned some tin cans to watch over Thunder while he was out 'exploring' the human world in another body, "By the way Storm, don't try and escape. This castle is highly guarded," In a flash of light; Mesu vanished and left Thunder alone to think.
*~*
Rekino ran into the double doors of Kiropathia Memorial Hospital. She was near tears, but refused to let them out. She was strong. She never took the time to get the report from the lady that called her. She prayed to the ancient that it wasn't serious. She walked over to the receptionist desk. A lady was in front of her talking away with the woman. She frowned.
"Could you please tell me where Doctor Kinomota is?" Rekino asked nicely.
The receptionist smacked on her gum at looked at the young woman, "Yes. One moment. Now, as I was saying Becky…"
Rekino clinched her fists at her side. She didn't need the woman to have idle chat! She wanted to know where the doctor was. Without thinking, she slammed her fists on the desk and drew everyone's attention in the waiting area to her, "Listen lady, this is a hospital, not a chatting line. Tell me where Doctor Kinomota is, dammit! It's of very importance that I see her!"
The receptionist turned to Rekino and frowned. Then, she remembered something, "Are you Miss Rekino Sanada?"
"Yes."
"Floor three, room two eighteen. Doctor Kinomota is waiting for you in there with Mr. Hashiba," The receptionist turned back to her friend.
Rekino let out a sigh and went to the elevator when Flash and Mia ran in, "Hey guys," Rekino said dryly.
"Hey," Flash said. She was laughing, "Way to go on chewing out the receptionist. I gotta hand it to ya on that one!"
Rekino smiled at fell back against the wall of the elevator. All three teenagers were silent during the elevator ride. Once it stopped, Rekino was the first out of the door, followed by Flash and Mia. She speed walked down the hall to room two eighteen where Doctor Kinomota was waiting for her.
"Miss Sanada, nice to see you again; however, on a case like this, it's not happy," Mina Kinomota was a slim woman in her thirties. She had long, blonde hair and sea green eyes, "Well, Mr. Hashiba is unconscious at the moment. So, I might as well tell you his conditions," She started flipping through her chart.
Mia smiled at Rekino, "Go in and see him. We'll get the report from Mrs. Kinomota."
"Thanks," Rekino said and opened the door to Rowen's room. She turned around to close the door. She looked at Rowen lying on the hospital bed. He had tubes running out of his nose and was connected to an IV line. She choked out a small sob and pulled a chair up beside his bed. She raised her hand and brushed some of his blue hair out of his face, "Hey honey. It's me, Rekino. You know, you gave me quite a scare."
The beeping sounds of the machines only answered her back. She took Rowen's hand into hers and brought it to her face. She kissed it gently with her lips and the tears that were running down her cheeks, "Oh Rowen, why did this happen? I love you so much. Oh God, I love you!" She kept crying while she held his hand, "It's not fair! Of all people, it had to be you. Please, open your eyes. I would give anything to hear your voice right now," She moved closer and placed her head in his lap. Her amethyst eyes were filled with unshed tears and she couldn't stop, "Open your eyes."
Rekino never did see Rowen's eyes clinch together. She never heard him moaning from pain. It seemed all to quick. Rowen opened his eyes to bright lights all around him. Where am I? He wondered. Then he remembered the fight at school. Brock had got him pretty good. He looked down and saw his girlfriend lying in his lap, and she was holding his hand while crying. He smiled. He gripped her hand the best he could to show her he was awake, "Rekino," She looked up at him, "Hey."
Rekino blinked a couple of times. He was awake! Thank the ancients, "Rowen!" Rekino said his name back. She moved held his hand tighter. She felt him grip hers back. He was okay. She saw him trying to sit up, "Here, let me help you."
Rowen smiled at her. He felt Rekino move her head out of his lap. She placed one arm behind his back while the adjusted to bed. She took his pillows and placed one behind his lower back and the other behind his shoulder blades. While she wasn't paying attention, Rowen moved his head closer to Rekino's and captured her lips. She was taken aback, but kissed him back. His hand moved to her hair. Neither of them heard Flash and Mia walk in.
Flash stared at the two for a few minutes without speaking. She was extremely worried about her friend and could only imagine what Mesu must be doing to him now. She clenched her fists and promised within herself, I swear if Mesu harms him, he will suffer both physically and spiritually. I will rip his spirit into tiny little pieces!
Mia watched Rowen and Rekino for a few minutes, hiding her tears back. She hated when her friends suffered, and from what she had heard from the doctor Rowen was pretty bad. She was almost afraid to tell Rekino. Okay, she was afraid. Who knew what Rekino would do when she found out?
It was Flash who spoke first. "Rekino?"
Rekino let go of Rowen, almost reluctantly, and then looked back at Flash and Mia, wiping her eyes. "What…what is it?" she asked, hoping she didn't look like she was crying.
Rowen looked toward her two friends and waved to them the best he could. "Hey you two."
"Hey there, Rowen," Mia said softly as she looked at him with concern and full of pity. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I got beat up," Rowen replied. All of them frowned deeply, each of them feeling at a loss for words.
"Rekino," Flash finally said as she looked at the Lady Ronin Guardian of Wildfire with a sad expression in her eyes, "the doctor told us what damages Rowen had."
Rekino frowned deeply, then looked back at Rowen who also frowned deeply. Both then looked right at Flash.
"Tell me then," Rekino said, her voice almost cracking.
Rowen agreed. He was scared to know what was wrong with him, but he had to know.
Flash looked at them both in the eye, and then finally spoke. "Rowen, you have seven broken ribs, a broken collarbone, a busted lip, a fractured shoulder bone, and some cuts and bruises."
Rowen lowered his head, frowning even more. So that was why he hurt so badly. But that didn't explain where or how Brock had gotten the strength to do all that. None of it made any sense at all. It was like Brock had been a totally different person. Mia and Rekino were both shocked, but Rekino was more than shocked. She looked beyond pissed. Someone was going to pay dearly for this.
*~*
Thunder was frowning deeply as he stared at the floor. He was thinking and wondering just how to get out of this mess. He did not know what Mesu was up to, but he sensed he was up to no good as always. He needed to contact Flash, but Mesu had said he was blocked. Still it never hurt to try. He closed his eyes concentrating, trying to reach out to Flash, and then suddenly he cried out in pain, clutching his head tightly. There was no way he could reach Flash, which he knew. If only he knew how to break the block. He could only hope that Flash would sense him out somehow and would soon come to rescue him.
He sighed deeply and sat crossed legged, wondering just how long he would be a prisoner. In truth he was scared. Scared he would suffer here like he had when Tutock held him. He tried his best to show no fear and put on an emotionless face. He thought of other things, hoping it would distract him away from his predicament. The time he met the Warriors, the time he and his grandparents went to Disneyland, the time he went mountain biking on the cliffs, the time he and Flash camped out with the other Warriors. The thoughts made him smile to himself. Those were all good memories. Of course the Warriors also had their fights, but they always made up with each other. There was love there for all of them and high respect for their mentor.
The soldiers stared at Thunder, not even caring what he was thinking, or even doing in that 'force field'. Their only job was to guard him and make sure he didn't escape.
Thunder himself was now beginning to wonder just what Mesu wanted him for. He had his guesses, but he was hoping he was wrong. He was hoping he was very wrong, but he doubted it.
Well, think of it this way, Thunder, he told himself. At least an evil woman trying to take over the world didn't kidnap you. In a way it made him feel better but not quite.
Just then Mesu returned from wherever he had gone to. There was a huge grin of triumphant on his face as if he had just succeeded in pulling the worst heist ever. He looked right at Thunder, still grinning.
"How do you like your accommodations, Storm?" he laughed evilly.
Thunder glared at him. "I've seen worse."
Mesu smirked. "I'm sure you have. I know of your past experiences with your former enemy Tutock. And how many times you were captured and tortured by him and other enemies. Wasn't there a scientist who also abducted you as a young kid?"
Thunder frowned deeply. "Stop it."
"You were what, eight years old then?"
"Stop it," Thunder said a little louder."
"He experimented on you a lot with ten inch needles all over your young small body, then kept you locked up in a tiny damp and dark room with no bed, not warm blankets, and hardly any food or water."
"STOP IT!!" Thunder screamed, clutching his hands tightly over his ears. He did not want to hear anymore. The painful memories of what had happened that fateful day were just too much to handle. Tears were starting to run down his cheeks and he began to shake as the memories haunted him once more.
Flashback
Six men are watching a small
eight-year quickly walking toward a large building, as he is but only a foot
away from their van. They quickly exit the van and surround the boy, attempting
to just carry him off with ease, but instead are surprised to find him fighting
back, and almost winning. They finally succeed when the larger of the men knock
him out and take off with him in the van, heading for a dreary looking run-down
building far, far away from the military school.
An eight-year-old Thunder awakes sometime later and finds himself strapped
tightly to a cold metal table, hooked to all kinds of wires and machines. He
struggles to get free, his heart pounding against his chest, his eyes wide with
fear and confusion.
A man walks into the room, grinning at the boy. "So you're awake. It's about
time. My men tell me you're one very interesting boy. I find it amazing that
you can heal yourself. But I want to see that for myself and test that ability.
Wh...who are you? What do you want? I want my mama!" He was extremely scared
now.
"Your mama doesn't want you! Why else would she send a little brat like you
to the military school?"
Thunder sniffled as tears run down his face. "I'm not a brat!"
"You are a brat! A worthless brat!" The scientist got out several needles
and other equipment, which he inserted into several places all over Thunder's
body, making him look almost like a porcupine to which he quickly began to
analyze.
And Thunder screamed loudly in pain. "STOP IT!! IT HURTS!! MAMA! PAPA!! MAMA!!!!!!!!!!!"
End Flashback
Thunder snapped out of the memory, shaking badly as the tears ran down his face.
"Aww, is something wrong, Storm?" Mesu called mockingly. "Did I bring back painful memories for you? Here maybe this will help!" He waved his arm upward and suddenly about thirty ten-inch needles appeared before Thunder.
Thunder's eyes widened in fear and sweat dripped down his face. He could feel his heart beating mercilessly against his chest rapidly. He crawled backwards on his rear, trying to get as far from the needles as he could. Then he felt a force holding him in place. He couldn't move!
The needles came toward him even faster that he let out a frightened cry before the needles stopped just inches away from his face, before they slowly vanished from view. Thunder's heart continued to pound though as he sat there, shaking in fear. He heard the wicked laughter of Mesu and glared up at him through his fearful, but angry eyes.
"That's just the beginning, Storm," Mesu warned with a grin upon his face. "More torture will come for you and your friends as well as for the Ronins and Lady Guardians."
"You'll never get away with this!" Thunder shouted at him. "The Ronins, the Lady Guardians, Flash, and I will all kick your butt before you even knew what hit you!"
Mesu yawned as if he was bored. "That's what you say now, but we shall see, Storm. In the meantime, sleep."
Thunder glared at him more, but then a strange mist filled the 'force field' he was in. He suddenly felt extremely exhausted and tried to fight against it, but it was no use. In no time at all, he was lying flat on the floor in a deep sleep.
Mesu cackled and rubbed his hands together. "Soon, soon very soon, I will have Rekino and Flash, and the Armors of the Ronins and Lady Guardians will be mine! Hahahahahahaha!!"
Ryo frowned deeply when he got the news about Rowen. Both Sage and Kento were on the rampage, wanting revenge on the behalf of their friend. Sage was so angry he was practically shaking, and Kento was growling and slamming his fists together. Occasionally he kicked a fence, denting the pole.
Ryo sighed. Just great, he thought. Rowen was in the hospital, and Kento's gonna get us all suspended for destroying school property.
"Kento, cool it!" Sage warned as they headed for their vehicles.
"Why?! Rowen is hurt and..."
"I know Rowen is hurt!" Sage said. "But destroying school property isn't going to help us! Now let's just go and see how he is, okay?"
Kento nodded with a grumble. Whoever hurt Rowen would pay big time. Together they got into their vehicle with Ryo driving. Sage sat in the passenger side while Kento and Cye sat in the back.
Cye was frowning deeply. Just how bad was Rowen? Who had beaten him up? Why hadn't they felt he was being hurt? There were a lot of unanswered questions and Cye wasn't even sure where to even start. He stared out the window as the scenery passed by. Please, Rowen, be okay.
