Rowen ran into the house and stopped when he got into the door.
He watched the scene before him. Kento was sitting next to Cye with his hand on his shoulder. Ryo and Sage were standing up on the opposite side of the table watching their friends. Ryo was holding a fist at his side. Cye was holding his hands up to his face as he slowly rocked on his heels muttering, "not again, not again."
"What happened?" Rowen asked as he joined Sage's side.
No one said anything and only Cye's muttering could be heard. Behind Rowen he heard soft footsteps as Riska joined the group, he didn't turn to look at her.
"I'm an idiot." Ryo finally groaned, he opened his fist and showed Rowen the dice that he had been gripping. On Ryo's skin Rowen could see imprints of the dice showing just how hard Ryo was gripping the objects.
"What do you mean?" Rowen asked looking up from the dice.
"We were just playing Chō-Han and I rolled two ones." Ryo explained. "I said the first thing that came to mind."
"Snake eyes." Sage muttered. A groan escaped Cye's lips.
"Cye just began to thrash and yell…" Ryo continued.
"It was like he was in battle." Kento said, "I had to tackle him to make him stop."
"Memories," Riska finally said, "of before. It happens to the best of warriors. You remember the battles you've been through and a simple phrase could reactivate all the feelings of what you felt in a specific moment. It could make you flash back to it and you end up reliving it."
"You mean, PTSD." Rowen asked.
"Is that what they call it now?" Riska asked.
Rowen didn't answer; instead he walked over to Cye and put his hand on his other shoulder.
"It's alright Cye. We're all safe here."
"I know that, but I can't help these flashbacks. Even though we finished our fight with Talpa and his warlords, I'm still fighting them in my dreams and sometimes, even when I'm awake." Cye looked up to his friends. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be, Cye." Sage said quickly, "I get them too."
Everyone looked at Sage, "I get more night terrors than anything. I'll wake up in the middle of the night yelling out a battle cry my heart running a mile a minute."
"I haven't heard you do that." Rowen pointed out.
"You sleep like a rock, of course you don't." Sage replied smoothly.
Ryo nodded, "me too, I don't even sleep most nights anymore. That's why I would always leave for days at a time; I was hoping getting out into the mountains would help clear my mind. It didn't help so I began to train instead, it kept my mind busy."
"I… can't sleep either." Kento finally admitted, "I just can't get myself relaxed enough to, and it makes me feel guilty. One day I was so tired I snapped at my little sister, I just yelled at her for not make sticky buns right. She looked at me like I was a monster."
"I get nightmares too," Rowen said last, "and I've honestly been going to library just to be alone… I don't study much."
The Ronins looked at each other, they wondered how they had been changing their behaviors without the others noticing.
"Let me teach you all how to manage these memories." Riska said, "If you keep them locked inside as you have been they will tear you all apart, which is what Zetsumei wants."
"And just how do you plan on helping us?" Kento asked.
"I will teach you techniques to help you all relax when anxiety is at its highest and how to speak to each other more in your battles." Riska told them calmly, "right now you are all fighting separate battles, but together, you can win any war."
The Ronins looked at each other trying to decide what they wanted to do. Riska was asking them to show how vulnerable they really were and trust that she could help them overcome it.
Sage wanted to tell her no way, but at the same time he could feel how everything that weighed down on him was affecting him in everyday life and especially battle. However, he doubted Riska could understand exactly how to help them. She had been under Talpa's power for so long, unthinking and following orders. Then when she left the Nether Realm she simply went through time watching people as they lived and die, all the while knowing she would just keep going. He wondered how much she could actually relate to them. Sage looked at Riska, he had to admit she was strong through on the surface, maybe underneath she really did understand them.
"When can we start?" Cye finally asked he sounded like he was almost back to normal. Sage looked at his friend seeing how determined me looked, and it made Sage feel strong.
"Tonight. Meet me in the foothills in an hour, and be in your under armors." Riska ordered then turned and left the room before anyone else could put another word in.
Rowen watched her leave but then suddenly chased after her. The other Ronins watched him go.
"Riska." Rowen called as he jogged after Riska, she was almost through the gate but froze when she heard Rowen coming after her.
She turned to the blue-haired boy and looked at him with a neutral expression.
"Riska, I wanted to sorry I'm sorry about my behavior before… by the hot springs." Rowen told her as he caught up.
Riska sighed and let her face drop, "Rowen…go get ready to train." Then without another word Riska walked away, out of the gate and into the foothills.
Rowen sighed; when he turned around he paused when he spotted a small wisp of light floating lazily above a stone next to the garden's pond.
"Kodama." Rowen whispered.
